Baroni: "Our Squad Is Competitive As Long As We Play Together. We've Lost Some Key Individuals, But The Squad Is Filled With Players Willing To Step Up. My Job Is To Tailor The Team’s Playstyle To Their Strengths."

Marco Baroni's Lazio delivered another strong performance, securing a crucial win over Torino after their Europa League debut victory. In a post-match press conference, the Biancoceleste coach praised his team's efforts: "The team performed well defensively. We sometimes concede goals without the opposition creating real chances, and that's something we've been addressing. From a performance standpoint, I believe we've lost points despite playing well, particularly in the match against Fiorentina. I'd rather lose with a good performance than win with a poor one. We've analyzed things with the players, and after that, we managed to win both in Europe and against Torino, which is always tough. I prepared them for a physical match, and they responded well. At halftime, I told them we needed to maintain focus and a strong mental attitude, and they did exactly that."

Regarding the competitiveness of the squad, Baroni emphasized the importance of teamwork: "Our squad is competitive as long as we play together. We’ve had key departures in the past year, and we've lost some important individuals who have made significant contributions to Lazio’s history. Now, we have younger players who will make mistakes, and it’s my job to support them. They are in an environment with top players, and they need time to adapt. I'll give them opportunities because it's the only way to grow. We need everyone to work as a team, especially when we're not in possession, and the team is doing that."

When asked about Lazio’s message to the league, Baroni downplayed making long-term plans: "I prefer to focus on work. I encourage my team to play with courage. Football has evolved, and fans want intensity and entertainment. This aligns well with the group I have, and we're working on building that identity."

Baroni also acknowledged the shadow of his predecessor, Maurizio Sarri: "Before me, there was Sarri, who had a remarkable career. It's natural to have doubts, but I’ve found a lot of support from the team. I understand the responsibility of this job, and with that responsibility comes pressure, but it shows we're doing well."

He continued to highlight the collective effort of his team: "We've lost some key individuals, but the squad is filled with players willing to step up. My job is to tailor the team’s playstyle to their strengths. This is the most technically skilled team I’ve ever coached, and my goal is to shape an identity that remains intact, regardless of whether we win, lose, or draw."

Speaking on Torino, Baroni praised his team's preparation: "Torino is strong in physicality and in linking up with their strikers, but we focused on neutralizing their movements and applying pressure. We kept them far from dangerous areas, but it wasn’t easy. The team was excellent in these challenging conditions, especially given the heat and the tight schedule. We focused on maintaining possession, controlling the game, and finding the right distances when we didn't have the ball, which paid off."

Baroni also emphasized the importance of squad rotation: "I don't rely on a core group of 16 players because experience has taught me that the less-used players can deliver crucial results. I work with everyone, and it's essential to use the whole squad to handle multiple games. The players gave me valuable responses, and I’d rather make mistakes together with them than face challenges alone."