Reja: "Despite Initial Skepticism, Baroni Proved Himself To Be Excellent. He’s The Only Coach Who Has Genuinely Earned His Chance, Having Worked His Way Up."

In an interview with Radio Laziale, former Lazio coach Edy Reja shared his thoughts on Marco Baroni and his squad, while also reflecting on his own experiences with the club:

BARONI

"I truly admire the mentality and style of play here—there’s a joy in the game that really entertains the fans. Despite initial skepticism, Baroni proved himself to be excellent. I even told the supporters early on to have patience because he is talented. He’s the only coach who has genuinely earned his chance, having worked his way up; in the past two years, he achieved wonders with both Lecce and Verona. Today, image is everything—you need influential friends, and not everyone has them. I followed his journey and, although he had his ups and downs, it was clear he was a capable coach. Our paths are similar: I had opportunities with Napoli and Lazio later in my career, working my way up from Serie B and even managing in Serie A, much like Baroni. Of course, a coach needs a strong team. My team in 2010 faced significant early challenges and chaos, but the following season we gathered 66 points, finishing fourth behind Milan, Inter, and Napoli. Then, the next year, we lost to Udinese after Zarate’s chipped penalty—I would have been furious. As for Matuzalem, he was a brilliant talent, one of the best I’ve worked with, though it’s a pity he wasn’t always consistent."

BARONI'S LAZIO

"It’s unfortunate for Lazio to have lost Castellanos, a true finisher. With players like Guendouzi and Rovella on the field, and with talents like Isaksen, Tavares, who works tirelessly, and Pedro, whose exceptional shots really excite me, the team is well-rounded. Even with solid defenders like Marusic, Gila, and Romagnoli, they have what it takes to aim for the Champions League. Compared to my own Lazio, this side is strong. I even considered stepping down after four years because coaching Lazio can be incredibly challenging. By ‘rotten framework,’ I mean the critics who were upset with me and Lotito—despite finishing fourth, the stadium was nearly empty. After Petkovic’s return, we were on course for the Europa League, but low attendance led to two draws that cost us European qualification. When comparing pairs like Guendouzi-Rovella or Ledesma-Matuzalem, Baroni’s combination is particularly powerful."

KLOSE'S DERBY

"That derby was the pinnacle of my satisfaction and one of the greatest moments of my career, right up there with achieving Serie A promotion with Napoli. After Klose’s goal, I couldn’t help but rush over to hug him. I was so caught up in the moment that I barely noticed when the referee sent me off. In the end, scoring makes all the difference in winning the derby—you can only imagine the joy."

PROVEDEL

"He comes off as a very dependable goalkeeper. There was a period when he made some truly extraordinary saves. I once had Muslera, who, despite making some good saves, also committed mistakes that cost us a game against Juventus—his hands just weren’t steady enough. Goalkeepers are always under intense scrutiny because of their huge responsibilities, but he’s undoubtedly one of the best in Italy."