Guendouzi reveals Lazio 2024-25 target and timescale for next trophy | OneFootball

Lazio midfielder and France international Matteo Guendouzi says that finishing the 2024-25 season in the top four in Serie A is the most important objective, and has also insisted that he wants to win a trophy within the next 18 months with the Biancocelesti.

The 25-year-old, who played the full 90 minutes in France’s recent 3-1 victory over Italy in San Siro, gave an interview to La Gazzetta dello Sport, published on Thursday morning.

Italy’s defender Federico Dimarco (R) and France’s midfielder Matteo Guendouzi struggle for the ball during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Italy and France at the Giuseppe Meazza stadium in Milan, Italy, 17 November 2024. EPA-EFE/DANIEL DAL ZENNARO

Guendouzi on Lazio’s Champions League, Europa and Coppa Italia ambitions

Though Lazio are currently one of the four teams within one point of the top of the Serie A table, Guendouzi believes that returning to the Champions League is the most important target for his team this season.

“We have to keep our feet on the ground because we are still in the early stages of the season and we have very tough opponents in both Serie A and Europe,” the former Arsenal midfielder told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

“It’s better not to talk about objectives, but if I’m honest, I would like to return to the Champions League, so we have to try and finish in the top four.

“It won’t be easy, because there are at least seven or eight teams in Italy who can aspire to that target, and the standings are very close, but we’ve shown that we can compete.”

Even if he is not currently allowing himself to think about a Scudetto fight, Guendouzi believes that the Europa League and Coppa Italia are realistic targets for Lazio.

He also said that he will take experience from his former club, Arsenal, when it comes to winning trophies that aren’t the league title.

“We can have our say in both the Europa League and Coppa Italia. I won the FA Cup and lost a Europa League final with Arsenal, they are both fantastic experiences. I would love to win a trophy with Lazio this year or the next.”