Lazio President Claudio Lotito has been making waves with his recent comments about the club’s success and their rivalry with Roma. Speaking after a Federal Council meeting, Lotito discussed Lazio’s current form, their achievements under his leadership, and their ambitions for the future.
Lotito began by addressing the team’s recent performances, stating, “I’m not making any proclamations: they contested the coach, the players… Now the team’s progress is clearly disproving the criticisms. We walk with our feet on the ground, with humility, determination, and team spirit, game after game.”
Reflecting on his tenure at Lazio, Lotito proudly highlighted the club’s achievements: “Lazio had 550 million in debt, today it has a state-of-the-art sports center, they say. I’ll even make a specific documentary about it. We’ve won 7 trophies, after Juventus we’re the ones who have won the most, we’ve done something.”
The Lazio president couldn’t resist taking a dig at their city rivals, Roma: “Since I’ve been president, Roma has always been in lower league positions, except for last year. In terms of trophies won, the numbers speak for themselves. My competition is not with Roma, I look at my own house.”
Regarding future objectives, Lotito was optimistic: “New objectives? Of course, absolutely yes. Money is important, but it’s not indispensable, without which you don’t win. Atalanta won the Europa League, but there were better-equipped teams.”
On the stadium front, Lotito revealed plans for the Flaminio: “We’re also working on the stadium. Have I ever talked about the Flaminio? I made a commitment to the city administration that by mid-November I would bring a pre-feasibility study, which will mathematically happen because I wanted to create a project that is functional to the efficiency of the facility in light of current standards and not those of 40 years ago.”
Lotito also praised coach Marco Baroni: “If I chose Baroni, I did it with a function and I think he understood it, as well as interpreting it in the best way because he feels an integral part of a family. Baroni coordinates it technically. So far he’s doing it with mastery, correctness, and respect for individuals because he’s not favoring anyone.”
Finally, Lotito defended Pedro, who has returned to form: “Who said he was a reject? He wasn’t sold, he was included in the UEFA list. We bet on him because he’s a champion and an example. Pedro is very intelligent, he’s always in the right place at the right time and delivers results.”
