As Lazio prepare to host Real Sociedad in a pivotal UEFA Europa League match, manager Marco Baroni and defender Mario Gila addressed the media, highlighting the importance of the fixture and the team’s current state.
Lazio head coach, Marco Baroni, opened the press conference by underscoring the magnitude of the upcoming game: “It will be a wonderful match against a strong opponent. A team with personality and compactness. We must approach the game as if there’s no tomorrow; we play to win. This is our DNA. We’ll need a great performance in front of our fans.”
Addressing concerns about the squad’s depth, particularly in defense, Baroni expressed confidence in his team: “We’re short at the back, it’s true. But I have maximum trust in the squad. The Director has already spoken about this situation; the club is attentive and will do something. Whoever joins this team must be young, with energy. For tomorrow, we have the right solutions.”
Baroni also touched on the potential for early qualification: “This is a passage that would allow us to secure advancement early. Patric? We’re working on it; he has a check-up on Saturday.”
When questioned about potential transfers, Baroni remained discreet: “Casadei? I don’t name names. The Director has already said it; we need to bring in energy, players who want to join our journey. This is a theme I discuss with the club. But now I’m thinking about the field; the second half of the season will be much more difficult.”
The coach provided updates on player fitness, noting: “Guendouzi would like to play 80 games a year; he trains even while playing. The same goes for Rovella. Vecino has been an important loss; we hope to recover him in the first 10-15 days of February.”
Defender Mario Gila emphasized the match’s importance: “It’s a very important game as you say. All matches are important, and as a team, we must treat them all equally. Tomorrow we must take the three points because they are crucial for qualification.”
Reflecting on his time at Lazio, Gila expressed satisfaction with his development: “I’m very happy here and feel very important. After almost three years, I’m in a positive moment and feel like a very important player. National team? I feel ready and prepared. It’s a dream for me.”
Gila offered interesting insights into the differences between Italian and Spanish football: “Serie A is like a game of chess: it’s more tactical, although lately, there’s been a focus on duels and one-on-ones. Defending is much better here. For example, you can see the difficulties Dovbyk is experiencing, who had an incredible season at Girona but is struggling in his first games in Italy.”
The Spanish defender concluded by emphasizing the importance of mental strength: “The head is the most important part of the player. If you can have the mental strength to go forward for 90 minutes with the grit and desire of the previous game, you have a great advantage. It’s very important.”
