Baroni fuels Lazio ‘self-belief’ in Europa League after triumph | OneFootball

Marco Baroni will not shy away from the status of Europa League favourites and explains how he gave Lazio ‘self-belief’ this season, also with good news on the Nuno Tavares injury.

The Biancocelesti have been top of the Europa League table from the start of the season and need only one point to be sure of staying there throughout this phase of the competition, as they have now opened up a three-point gap as leaders with a goal difference of +13.

Their direct access to the Round of 16 has already been secured and that in itself was perhaps unexpected considering this is Baroni’s career first management experience in Europe.

“All compliments have to go to my lads. I don’t want what they are doing to be mistaken as being normal. Even today when we were missing a lot of players, the team constantly inspires me and I am so proud to be coaching this group,” Baroni told Sky Sport Italia.

“There is still a long way to go, we’ve done nothing yet, but I know that I can count on a group that is hungry and wants to keep improving.”

Considering the way they have dominated the competition so far, must Lazio be called one of the favourites to follow in the footsteps of Atalanta and win the Europa League this season?

“Calling a team favourites is one thing, we have to prove it on the pitch. It’s all about the football, the player must be the first to demand more from himself. The moment you think you’ve achieved something, that’s when you lose it. We’ve got to keep hold of this team identity and carry on like this.”

Inspirational debut European season for Baroni

ROME, ITALY – JANUARY 23: Mahamadou Balde, Pedro Rodrigo and Valentin Castellanos of SS Lazio celebrate a victory 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 Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images)

Lazio were already dominating tonight’s match against Real Sociedad even before the Aihan Munoz red card on 30 minutes, leading through Mario Gila, followed by Mattia Zaccagni and Taty Castellanos goals.

The Spaniards only focused on defending and limiting the damage in the second half, even snatching a late consolation with Ander Barrenetxea for the 3-1 result.

It was put to Baroni that a key part of tonight’s victory was having strikers Castellanos and Boulaye Dia put pressure on Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi.

“With so many attacking players, it is important to win the ball back quickly, so the strikers have to press too. I had studied their matches and he is the player who really pulls the strings, he has great passing channels, so the work of the two strikers was fundamental there,” he acknowledged.

The only negative from this evening was that Nuno Tavares pulled up with a left adductor issue, so are there any updates on his condition?

“Fortunately, it seems as if he managed to pull up at the right time and avoid any serious damage. Naturally, he is an important resource for us, we’ll have to see tomorrow how he’s doing,” explained Baroni.

Zaccagni told Sky Sport Italia that Baroni deserved credit for bringing a new mentality to Lazio this season, where they treated every match and competition in the same way.

“From the first day I spoke to this team, I said that I’d never coached a group with such talent,” replied the coach.

“Of course you have to work hard, but the first thing a coach must do is give them self-belief. They surprised me with the joy they found in training and during the matches too, they enjoy their football and that emotion transfers to the fans too.

“Zaccagni is our captain, he wears the armband, but I have many different captains within the locker room and that is so important.”

The Lazio mentality was shaken by heavy defeats to Inter and Roma, yet they got themselves back on track, something that has not necessarily been the case in the past.

“It is in difficult moments that you see what a team is really like. I always say you can lose the result, but must never lose the performance. Some of our games haven’t been up to our standards, but the team always reacted, because it has a strong identity and has to keep hold of it,” concluded Baroni.