After Ajax’s 3-1 home defeat to Lazio in the Europa League, coach Francesco Farioli shared his thoughts on the match and the Italian side’s impressive form. Despite the loss, Farioli believes his team put up a strong fight against a formidable opponent.
“We lacked a bit of precision,” Farioli began. “We’ve watched many Lazio matches, and this was perhaps the game where they struggled the most. We knew we were playing against a team with great confidence, quality, and organization, with impressive physical strength. I believe our players delivered a high-caliber performance, dominating both with and without the ball. There’s regret about the result, but the performance was of a high level, and we certainly deserved a bit more.”
Farioli went on to discuss Ajax’s current project, noting that the team is ahead of schedule despite recent challenges. “We’re quite further ahead than where we actually thought we’d be because the situation of the last two years has been quite complicated. We’ve hardly made any incoming transfers and had to sell. The priority is to balance the books. So far, in terms of performances and results, we’re following the direction we want to go. Now we need to finish the year in the best possible way.”
The Ajax coach also took a moment to commend Lazio and Italian football in general. “Lazio? We’re talking about a team in a magical moment for what they’re doing, and everything is going well for them. There’s positivity, and all the players are fighting for the maximum result. They have great quality and physical strength. This aspect, combined with their organization and great desire, means they’re competing on all three fronts. Congratulations to them. Lazio is representing our Italian football around Europe.”
