“We Live for This” – Baroni Relishes His Maiden Roma Derby, Reveals Three Lazio Players in Doubt

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The Laziali

·3. Januar 2025

“We Live for This” – Baroni Relishes His Maiden Roma Derby, Reveals Three Lazio Players in Doubt

Lazio coach Marco Baroni expressed his great excitement ahead of his first experience in the Derby della Capitale against Roma.

Lazio Manager Marco Baroni Eager to Take Part in Roma Derby

The two blood rivals will share the pitch on a fiery Sunday evening, and the Biancocelesti coach knows fully well that this fixture isn’t like any other as he reiterated during his pre-match press conference (via LazioNews24).

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We live for these matches. They are wonderful because there is all the passion in them. The team and I have to approach this game with great joy. We can’t say that Christmas is a day like any other. The Derby is the Derby. We’ll need all the attention and desire that we’ve always put into the field.

Old Ties With Claudio Ranieri

The 61-year-old insists Roma are on the path of recovery under Claudio Ranieri who used to coach him during his playing stint at Napoli.

We are playing this match on Sunday and not two months ago. In the last five matches, the two clubs have registered the same amount of points and since Ranieri’s arrival Roma have scored double. It will be a delicate and beautiful challenge. Ranieri was my coach at Napoli. He is a wonderful person and his words are nice.

Doubtful Trio

Baroni revealed that Tijjani Noslin and Manuel Lazzari will undergo late athletic tests to prove their fitness, while Gaetano Castrovilli could miss the fixture due to flu.

On Saturday, we will test Lazzari and Noslin to see if we can call them up. Castrovilli had a flu attack, so we will evaluate him too. [Boulaye] Dia is doing very well and I have doubts about the formation. Everyone is training very well and I am having difficulty choosing. Dia came on well against Atalanta, he is very important for us. We have chosen players who are growing. These are the games that make you grow and you have to face them in a certain way. Castrovilli had a flu attack, tomorrow we will evaluate him too.

Nuno Tavares’ Form

The former Hellas Verona manager also discussed Nuno Tavares who is having an underwhelming run following his flying start to life at Lazio.

Tavares had a small injury and he has to stay calm and work hard. Sometimes, a player’s quality comes out more and sometimes less. But it’s not like he can make five assists a game. His beauty also lies in his ability to take risks.

The Return of the Outcasts

Finally, Baroni confirmed he’s determined to take advantage of the ability to alter his Serie A squad during January by adding Elseid Hysaj and Toma Basic to the squad in place of the injured Matias Vecino and Pedro.

We will definitely bring in Basic and Hysaj. They always work with us and can give us a big hand. So let’s take advantage of this opportunity to change the list.