Baroni insists Lazio-Viktoria Plzen is not over: ‘Managing the game would be a mistake’ | OneFootball

Lazio head coach Marco Baroni believes that his side still have plenty of work to do in their Europa League round of 16 tie against Viktoria Plzen, despite having a 2-1 advantage heading into the home leg at the Stadio Olimpico on Thursday evening. ‘Managing the game would be the biggest mistake’.

The Biancocelesti are enjoying a brilliant Europa League season so far. They finished the league phase at the top of the standings, and have only lost once in the competition so far this campaign, which came against Braga in the final league phase match, when Lazio had already qualified for the knock-outs.

The knock-out rounds got off to a triumphant start as well, as Lazio beat Viktoria Plzen 2-1 in Czechia last week to tee up an advantage heading into the return leg in the capital on Thursday.

The winner of the tie will go on to face either Olympiacos or Bodo/Glimt in the quarter-finals in April.

PLZEN, CZECH REPUBLIC – MARCH 06: Matteo Guendouazi of SS Lazio in action during the UEFA Europa League 2024/25 Round of 16 First Leg match between FC Viktoria Plzen and S.S. Lazio at Stadion mesta Plzne on March 06, 2025 in Plzen, Czech Republic. (Photo by Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images)

Speaking during his pre-match press conference on Wednesday, Baroni insisted that the tie is far from over for Lazio: “Managing the game would be the biggest mistake to make. We have to play every game like we want to win.

“We know that tomorrow will be a knock-out game, we can’t think that we’ve already got the result. The team will have to go out onto the pitch with the desire to play.”

Baroni gives Lazio team news: Castellanos boost, Provedel vs. Mandas

Baroni confirmed that he will field his strongest available XI against Viktoria Plzen, despite a big game against Bologna coming up in Serie A at the weekend.

“Whoever is in better shape will play. We will give it our all, it isn’t important who starts, but whoever comes on later will be crucial. We won’t try and make any estimates or predictions.”

The Lazio coach also confirmed that Valentin Castellanos is set to make his return from injury against Viktoria on Thursday: “Taty will definitely be in the game tomorrow. We will have to evaluate him as well as Nuno (Tavares). Dele still has a bit of discomfort, I have to talk to him too because I want him to be calm when he gets on the pitch. He still has some pain in his ankle.”

ROME, ITALY – JANUARY 23: Valentin Castellanos of Lazio celebrates with teammates after scoring his team’s third goal during the UEFA Europa League 2024/25 League Phase MD7 match between S.S. Lazio and Real Sociedad de Futbol at Stadio Olimpico on January 23, 2025 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

Baroni is not overly concerned about Lazio’s fixture congestion. He takes it as a compliment and a sign that his team are doing well in multiple competitions: “I never talk about fatigue because I would like to play all the time. If a team is playing every three days it means that they are doing well.”

And on Lazio’s goalkeeper battle, he added: “I’ve already talked about this, the goalkeeper is not separate from the rest of the team. I will make evaluations, but one thing is for sure: We have trust in both Mandas and Provedel.”

And on the recent replacements while Castellanos has been out injured, Baroni said: “Noslin and Tchaouna have the full confidence of myself and the team. They have different characteristics and the team has to help put them in a position to perform.

“I coached Noslin as a centre-forward last year and he scored five and got five assists. Tchaouna has always been a second striker. We have to help them perform at their best.”

ROME, ITALY – DECEMBER 05: Tijjani Noslin of SS Lazio celebrates a third goal during the Italy Frecciarossa Cup match between SS Lazio v Napoli at Stadio Olimpico in Rome on December 05, 2024 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images)

“I’ve always said that the striker makes the difference to a team. We have put lots of players in front of goal. Taty is a player who moves a lot. We don’t have a ‘static’ striker. I talk about characteristics because some players need to be fed in different ways.

“Castellanos is our striker, he is doing very well and it’s clear that his injury hurt us. I have great confidence in our team because we create and that’s the most important thing.”