Lazio secured an important 2-1 victory over Verona in Monday night’s Serie A clash, boosting their position in the league table. The win comes as a significant morale boost for the Biancocelesti, especially with their upcoming away fixture against Fiorentina. Following the match, manager Marco Baroni shared his thoughts with Sky Sport.
Baroni began by addressing the team’s performance, stating, “These are matches that need to be closed out. We had seven shots on target and several important chances, with Montipò making various saves. The team played with personality, trying to press high. I saw good quality and aggression, and we’re pleased.”
Regarding his decision to field two strikers and the goal conceded, Baroni explained, “I ask the players for mobile football to avoid giving reference points. Both Dia and Castellanos move between the lines and are receivers. We try to play with rhythm, and I always ask the players to show the fans their desire and collective spirit. The first goal was my responsibility, and I’m sorry for that, but the team performed well overall.”
The only downside of the evening was Castellanos’ injury. On his condition, Baroni commented, “He’ll need to undergo tests. Clearly, national team duties and intercontinental travel don’t help, but it doesn’t seem to be anything serious.”
Reflecting further on his team’s performance, Baroni added, “We need to work on our approach. When you try to win the ball back by pushing up, you have to take some risks. At the moment, the team is scoring, which is important. We’ll find the right balance through collective work. Today we had high fullbacks, so I asked the midfielders to focus more on covering. I prefer a team that takes risks to one that sits back, and the players understand this.”
Addressing the midfield duo of Rovella and Guendouzi, Baroni noted, “It’s not just about them. For example, Vecino can also cover this role very well. I think they did a good job. Sometimes in the first half, we were stubborn in playing through the middle where they had numerical superiority, and we lost some balls there. The team managed possession with great personality, sought to use the wide areas, and tried to deliver crosses, which is what we aim to do.”
