The 2024/2025 season officially begins today Laziowith the first day of the rally in Formello. And at the same time, Mark Baroni he introduces himself to the white and blue world in a press conference. Before the new coach, however, the president took the floor Claudio Lotito: “It’s an opportunity to take stock of the situation and dispel a series of considerations that don’t correspond to the reality that I read in the newspapers and hear on the radio. Lazio isn’t downsizing, it’s reorganizing, trying to valorize merit. The choice of coach Baroni is a thought-out, desired choice based on the technical evaluation of the quality of the person and on the project that Lazio intends to undertake on a team that will be based on physical strength and running. Football has changed, in the past we looked for flags but now flags aren’t seen in other teams. I was one of the few who wanted to maintain some fixed points, but then the players’ choices were different and not linked to discussions with the club, but individual choices that are not linked to affection for the white and blue shirt”.
“We are basing ourselves on a coach who does not chase theories, those who deserve play, those who do not deserve do not play, and a player does not play just for the name he has, his place is earned on the pitch. This is the philosophy and this lack of application has led to the dismissal of two coaches, and I want to underline that there have been no problems with the club, on the contrary they have underlined how the players must put themselves at the service of the club. Merit must be rewarded, players of the past like Di Natale at Udinese who refused any offer, today football has changed, the attachment to the shirt for economic interests is less. We want to bring back an organised, efficient and proactive team, which puts on a show where the players take to the pitch to demonstrate their commitment with the sweaty shirt, something that did not happen in the past”.
“Lazio has not failed, it is in the Europa League and has lost to the less equipped teams, there is no problem with the team’s potential, but with the dressing room, the mind and the ability to question oneself. This led to the resignation of Sarri first and then of Tudor, also in light of a banner that was displayed and which does not do credit to the person who suggested it. We want to bring the interest of Lazio back to the center of our project, whoever wants to stay can do so, whoever does not want to do so can leave but on Lazio’s terms. We want to send those who deserve it onto the field, if they are good they take the field, if they are not good they do not take the field. We have taken players after a choice thought out and also supported by the coach, players who have physical strength and desire to do. Some players you did not even know who they were, now a recurring name has come out that we did not take due to 20 minutes of misunderstanding (Greenwood, ed.). In life, however, there are as many players, directors and coaches as you want, presidents are missing”.
“In Marco Baroni we have found a person of exceptional moral qualities, the results speak for Baroni. He should have been the golden bench, he earned it on the field with Lecce and Verona, he has not had the fortune of showing himself on another stage and today he has it. Those who deserve it and those who are able to make the difference play, those who are not able do not play. For the market, contrary to what some have written, Lazio did not spend 30 million but 40 because there is also VAT plus commissions, we work based on what we need. Lazio will work to build a competitive team, it was already last year but it was not at the dressing room level and the proof is the farewell of some players who have decided to abandon ship. The players have shown that they can last about 3 years in a club, we believed that the flags could still exist. I am only sorry for Felipe Anderson, we made a very competitive offer, he also recognized it, but he made a life choice and decided to return to live in Brazil.”
After Baroni’s conference, President Lotito took the floor again to answer this question. In your opinion, coaches like Sarri and Tudor don’t let those who deserve to play play? Have you made any mistakes?
“The topic is very simple. Our objective was the Champions League. We lost the first match against Lecce, then against Genoa. We also lost against Salernitana. Some complained because he wasn’t playing and then certain situations arose. He found people whose behavior was not relevant to his needs. We thank Tudor who straightened him out. He left out several players in the last matches. Those who only play for themselves don’t play, as Baroni said. Merit must be rewarded. The players chosen are those who have the best physical performances. The others must adapt, otherwise they are out. So there are people who decide to leave. Then Luis Alberto. He got the money he wanted, because he knew he was in a difficult situation. Football has changed, there is another model. Sarri and the purchases? If I had taken Berardi I would have been dead, he wanted Ricci, we spent 25 million on Rovella. Then we will see who is better of the two. Then he took Pellegrini who he wanted, as we did with Hysaj. Our mistake was to have kept players who didn’t give their all. Then we had to rejuvenate the team. Players now have a life of 3 years in the clubs, because the turnover changes the presumption that without me nothing can be done. If you have people inside the team who don’t row in the same direction, you have problems. Kamada? The agent asked for 2.5 million for the renewal of another year, but I have to look after the interests of the club, we are listed on the stock exchange. Tonight we will go to the Campidoglio to talk about the stadium, I have to build a stable club. If you look at the other presidents, they have a life of 6-7 years with that club, then they leave. Today Lazio instead has an institutional and political strength that wasn’t there before. Lazio has a financial strength of 250 million, but you don’t even know that. When agreements are made they have to be kept, in fact it’s true, it’s my fault. Now let’s start again with the players who are hungry”.
Read Marco Baroni’s full press conference here