Lazio, already qualified for the top eight in the Europa League, face a critical match against Braga with the opportunity to secure the top spot in the overall standings. Despite the team’s injury woes, manager Marco Baroni emphasised the importance of a strong performance in Portugal.
“We’ve had an extraordinary run in the cup so far, we can’t stop now,” Baroni urged in his pre-match conference. “We must play a real game, our concentration must be at its maximum. Ambitions are fueled by setting new goals and asking ourselves to grow even more.”
The coach addressed the recent defeat against Fiorentina, stating, “I’m not happy with what happened. I accept criticism, but I would make the same choices again. It was a particular game where the opponent collected everything they did, while the same didn’t happen to us. But this must push us to start again even stronger.”
Lazio’s squad is severely depleted for the Braga match. Rovella and Zaccagni are suspended, while Lazzari, Patric, Tavares, and Vecino are injured. Guendouzi is also out due to illness. This shortage of players has forced Baroni to consider unconventional tactics, including potentially playing Gila in midfield.
“He can also play that role,” Baroni commented on Gila’s potential midfield position. Despite the numerous absences, the coach is still aiming for victory: “Winning improves mentality and increases self-esteem and self-efficacy. Braga is a strong team, which is why we must face them in the best possible way.”
Team leader Alessio Romagnoli echoed the coach’s sentiments: “We want first place. We are few, but we will all have to give our best to finish ahead of everyone and continue to win whenever we can. How far can we go this season? It all depends on us. We must continue to have the ambition to impose ourselves in every game. We know we can do something important, but we must continue to work without sitting down.”
