Former Lazio midfielder Stefano Mauri discussed the Biancocelesti’s current position, their 1-1 draw with Benevento and the Champions League in an interview with Italian media outlet TMW Radio earlier today.
I think this situation was in the air. When a team plays in the Champions League and is not used to it, it’s inevitable that in the league they drop something. In the first half we saw a big difference but Lazio didn’t put it into practice.
The second half was more balanced and Benevento deserved more. It’s normal to look good in the Champions League after years of not being there. It’s a mental and physical factor.
In the league you have to rotate, the players are tired because of the mental energy you lose when fighting in the Champions League.
The 40-year-old Italian then spoke about the squad’s momentum and the incredibly busy schedule.
I think the team are very strong, they showed it last year before the lockdown and even now in the important games. The problem is that when they only have two days to prepare for the game and recover, they struggle.
When Lazio have a chance to have a week to work, the results show. But when you play every 2-3 days, it’s hard, they have less time to recover physically and to prepare for the matches. And then there are the individual moments that make the difference.
Lazio are currently 8th in the Serie A table after 11 games, sitting on 18 points, three behind rivals Roma.
Their next game is against Napoli on Sunday, an important clash as both teams look to fight for a top four finish this season.
