Baroni: ‘Lazio retain optimism and Europa League not an alibi'

Yahoo

26-01-2025

Lazio coach Marco Baroni insists he will 'retain my optimism' after the chaotic 2-1 home defeat to Fiorentina and refuses to use the Europa League strain as 'an alibi.'
It was a nightmare start at the Stadio Olimpico for the Aquile, who were fresh from Thursday's 3-1 Europa League victory here against Real Sociedad.
Yacine Adli volleyed in the opener and Lucas Beltran was left unmarked for a header at the back post to give Fiorentina a 2-0 lead within 17 minutes.
Despite dominating possession, the Biancocelesti hardly ever got a shot on target until after the Adam Marusic header in added time, then came so close to the equaliser with David De Gea's save on Marusic and Pedro off the upright with the last kick of the game.
'It's a pity, because we allowed two avoidable goals early on, but I will hold on tight to the second half performance. We had chances that we didn't take, but the team played with determination, created opportunities, and we are certainly sad at the result, but these are situations that must make us stronger,' Baroni told DAZN.
'I saw the right mentality and even quality in the second half, so we need to build on that.'
On the Beltran goal, Dodo stood up a cross from the by-line to find Beltran totally unmarked for the header.
'We were caught ball-watching and not keeping the reference points of our marking. When I said those were avoidable goals, it is not easy to then get back on track, but the team had the right attitude after the restart against a Fiorentina side that sat deep and knew how to waste time,' added Baroni.
Lazio are guaranteed a place in the Europa League Round of 16, but in Serie A they are now only two points clear of Juventus and three ahead of Fiorentina, with the Viola still having a game in hand.
Is it perhaps a coincidence that they have struggled recently in the first league match straight after a European fixture?
'It is something we need to improve, because it is wonderful to play in Europe and I don't want it used as an alibi. I want us to go as far as possible and that means many more games. We just need to be more focused and attentive to the details, because we are conceding goals without the opponents having to work that hard to create the chances.
'I prefer to hold on to my optimism and the second half was excellent in every sense, I had a glance at the statistics, we created so much. I don't like to talk about good luck, but with a little more sharpness, we could've got this game back on track.'
It was a chaotic finale with Adli sent off from the bench after his substitution for time-wasting and unsporting behaviour, then both coaches also saw red for dissent.
'I just wanted there to be more playing time for all the time-wasting, which was constant. I thought it was damaging to the spectacle of the sport, that is all,' concluded the Lazio coach.