Rovella And Pellegrini Face Uncertainty As Lazio Undergoes A Transition Under Igor Tudor's Leadership

The team is under constant evaluation as Tudor aims for success in European competitions, seeking a balance between achieving results and testing players to identify the best fit for his style of play.

According to Corriere dello Sport, 19 outfield players have started matches: Mandas, Gila, Romagnoli, Casale, Marusic, Cataldi, Kamada, Zaccagni, Felipe Anderson, Pedro, Castellanos, Immobile, Vecino, Guendouzi, Isaksen, Luis Alberto, Patric, and Hysaj.

Only two players have not started matches from the first minute: Pellegrini and Rovella. Rovella has been dealing with groin pain and recently returned to action, while Pellegrini has been battling ankle issues. The competition for starting positions has been fierce, limiting their chances to impress under the new manager to brief appearances in matches. However, this doesn't mean they are excluded from Tudor's plans or won't feature in the final stages of the season. On paper, they are well-suited to Tudor's preferred formation, having experience with the 3-4-2-1 setup in their careers.

Rovella, recovering from a lengthy injury, has only played for 23 minutes on the field. Surprisingly, even Pedro, at 36, has logged more playing time (172 minutes in 6 Serie A matches) than him. Adding to the complexity is Luca Pellegrini's situation; despite a change in formation that should have suited him better, he has struggled to find opportunities under both Sarri and Tudor. 

Tudor's recent remarks about Rovella suggest his preference for a different style of player in his lineup. Tudor mentioned:

"Rovella had a notable performance in which I wasn't there, but he also suffered a significant setback due to a groin injury that affected his pace."

"I admire Rovella's understanding of the game; he's a smart player. However, he needs to gain some weight. He's eager to learn and improve, and we've had discussions about it. It can be challenging for players who are performing well to make adjustments."