Baroni: ‘Europa League a goal for Lazio’ with ‘opportunity’ against Dinamo Kyiv | OneFootball

Lazio coach Marco Baroni claimed Europa League is ‘a goal’ for his side this season, although their opening game in the competition against Dinamo Kyiv will be a chance for those who ‘played less’ so far.

Lazio will travel to Hamburg to take on Dinamo Kyiv on Wednesday for the first of eight games of the newly expanded Europa League’s group phase.

“It’s a nice and interesting new format, for us it’s a high-profile competition and all our fixtures are difficult”, Baroni said in his pre-match press conference.

“We’ll face a tough team who went through the preliminary round, there’ll be difficulties on the pitch. But we need important games like this one to grow up.”

Lazio picked up their second Serie A defeat in five games by losing 2-1 against Fiorentina over the weekend, but Baroni still saw positives to take from their display.

“All losses are painful, we did a quick analysis,” he added.

“I have to say there are positive aspects related to our performance. We created a lot in every game, crosses, corners and shots on goals, and we conceded just a few shots.”

“We need to be sharper in front of the goal and more efficient both in attack and in defence.”

Lazio coach Baroni: ‘Europa League is our goal’

“I’m used to looking at the goals, but I want to move step by step,” Baroni said.

“Tomorrow’s game is a delicate and important one, Europa League is a goal for us, a wonderful competition. It’s an opportunity for the team, both for the youths who need experience and for the veterans.”

Lazio’s clash against Dinamo Kyiv will also mark Baroni’s European debut as a coach.

“The beauty of our job is that you never know what you can reach, but you can achieve goals when you’re determined to do it.”

“I’m happy and focused, like all my staff. We want to play a great game, and that’s why we’ll need a strong display tomorrow.”

Many of the questions also revolved around Lazio’s starting line-up and Taty Castellanos’ conditions, after the Argentinian missed the Biancocelesti’s last game against Fiorentina due to injury.

“For sure, tomorrow’s match will be a chance for those who have played less so far. I see all my players as starters and I’m sure that everyone will give his best.”

“Taty is a crucial player to us, you know it very well. He would like to play – we talked this morning, he’s feeling better but he hasn’t been training in the last five days.”

“He’s available, but we’ll see whether he can come on during the game.”

“I have to reflect on the central striker. Noslin is in form and he played a good game in Florence, he fought a lot even if he didn’t score.”

“He’s a young lad and he’s developing, these games can help him. He can play in all three attacking roles, I know it’s not an issue for him to be moved around the pitch.”

Asked whether Christos Mandas could replace Ivan Provedel in the Lazio net, Baroni replied: “I’ve already talked about it, the goalkeeper role is a particular one. Mandas has great value for the club, he’s young and he’s doing well, there’ll be a chance for him. But tomorrow, Provedel will start almost surely.”