Marco Baroni, Lazio coach, gave an interview to DAZN after the defeat suffered on the Fiorentina field:
Match decided by episodes?
“Only from the incidents. You know when a team has more possession, shots, and enters the penalty area. I’ve played more than 1,000 games. These are situations that are contrary to the spirit of the game. A player can’t even try to cover a cross anymore. I have a great passion, I watch a lot of games and I never see incidents like this. I’m sorry. We also have to change the way we defend and stay in the penalty area. I spoke about spirit in this sense. Even on the first one, Gudmundsson has already moved the ball, it’s not a bad stomp from Guendouzi. It’s a borderline situation. We try to put on a show but let’s leave it on the pitch. But this is my opinion. Everyone can make mistakes but if we go in this direction it becomes difficult for us coaches to tell our players how to behave. Guendouzi takes his foot off, the ball had already been played”.
How do you rate the performance?
“This is even worse. We have very good referees but these situations really put us in difficulty. It’s not a controversy but we have difficulty working in these situations. If I want an aggressive team I tell them to go fast. For me, aggressive football is required. If I have to tell them to go slow it becomes difficult for me. It’s simply an observation. We played with personality but we were penalized by two incidents. And I also have difficulty doing a defensive analysis with my players”.
What do you need to get going again?
“In some situations we need more determination but we will find it. The team plays and creates. It is clear that we must get the players to close the action and attack the goal better. I am not worried but bitter about these episodes, which penalize us beyond the merit of what we have seen on the field”.