Lazio manager Marco Baroni addressed the media following his team’s 2-2 draw against AC Milan at the Stadio Olimpico. Despite the shared points, Baroni expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance and highlighted areas for improvement.
When asked about any regrets after the match, Baroni stated, “The only regret is the result. The team played a great game. We started well in the first nine minutes, with the right attitude, keeping possession and finding good vertical passes.”
He acknowledged the challenge of conceding an early goal but praised his team’s resilience: “It’s not easy to concede on the first opportunity, we knew we could suffer from set pieces due to their physicality. We had prepared something, but it can happen to concede. From there, the team didn’t get intimidated, they remained present on the field.”
Baroni explained his tactical changes in the second half: “We changed something, not because there are players who failed but because there are young players to trust. I gave an important signal by putting in two strikers. This team must have courage, it can play football like in the second half, pressing Milan with fifty meters behind. We will work on this.”
Looking ahead, the Lazio coach emphasized the importance of the upcoming international break: “Now the break allows us to recover Gila and Pellegrini, who return to the group on Tuesday. We need to work, but we have found the thrust on the left that we lacked in the two games. In Udine, we made 30 crosses, we need to fill the area better, but we’re working on it. I see that the team has done something good.”
Baroni concluded by highlighting his willingness to take risks and the need for courage in his team’s approach: “I took some risks. Tavares hadn’t played since February, there were no center-backs on the bench, and I kept Marusic because he was the only one who could play centrally. Samuel will give us experience and personality, but I must have courage.”
