Baroni: "The Team Put In A Strong Performance. I’m Proud Of This Group, Not Just Today, But Since Day One. They’ve Given Everything, Believed In Our Work, And For That, I’m Grateful."

The match between Lazio and Viktoria Plzen concluded in front of nearly 40,000 passionate Lazio supporters. It was an intense encounter that ultimately secured the Biancocelesti’s place in the Europa League quarter-finals, the second-most prestigious club competition in Europe.

Head coach Marco Baroni fielded his strongest lineup, aiming to seal qualification and prevent Plzen from overturning the tie. Despite their efforts, the visitors fell short as Lazio advanced, thanks to Alessio Romagnoli’s crucial goal.

Following the 1-1 result, Baroni spoke to LSC and Sky about the performance and the road ahead.

"We’re especially happy for our fans. The team showed great resilience today. We struggled a bit with the rhythm, and when that happens, it becomes tough for us, but we interpreted the match well. Conceding that goal was unfortunate, but from that moment, the real Lazio emerged, and we created numerous opportunities."

"It was a great evening, but now our focus shifts immediately to the upcoming match against Bologna, which is crucial. I keep my head down and work with humility, dedication, and passion, passing this mindset to the players. I’m proud of this group, not just today, but since day one. They’ve given everything, believed in our work, and for that, I’m grateful."

"Our goal is team growth. While we will think about Bodo/Glimt in due time, there are other matches before the next European fixture. I want the team to improve step by step because these experiences help raise our level and ambitions. Tomorrow is a recovery day, and then on Saturday, we start preparing for Sunday’s match."

"Romagnoli scoring his third goal in a week? When you have confidence, the ball finds you. He’s been performing well, and so have his teammates. Patric was excellent, Taty wasn’t at 100% but gave everything, and Tavares also played with great determination. Everyone stepped up, and that’s what matters."

"The team put in a strong performance. At this level, every game presents challenges, and Plzen is a team that runs a lot and causes problems for opponents. However, after conceding, you could see our determination to progress. We raised the tempo because that’s what this team needs. I congratulate everyone for their effort."

"It’s also great to have Taty and Vecino back—they’re key players. When the squad is complete, substitutions feel seamless, but when we’re short on players, the burden on those available increases. That’s why getting everyone fit is crucial. Even in the last match, I wanted Rovella on the bench despite him being unable to play because he’s a reference point for us."

"At this level, fatigue is more mental than physical. The mind controls the legs. I would love to play every three days. Our training approach has changed to handle this schedule, and I focus on taking that fatigue out of their minds."

"In the locker room, I already spoke about Bologna. I told the team to recover both mentally and physically. Did conceding push us forward? I agree. The challenge was to overcome the psychological impact of falling behind. That’s how we are—we don’t just sit back and manage games. Plzen attacked directly and won second balls, which made it tough at times. But this match will help us grow."