Danilo Cataldi expects a complicated affair for Lazio as they host Salernitana in tonight’s Serie A clash.
The Biancocelesti have performed well without star striker Ciro Immobile recently, picking up wins over Atalanta and FC Midtjylland, and they’re desperate to follow these up with another impressive match against Salernitana. The Granata have looked solid this season and sit comfortably in the mid-table.
Speaking in the match programme (via LazioNews24), Cataldi first discussed Salernitana’s qualities and what he expects from today’s match.
They’re a team in confidence that have kept the same coach and added important players. That’s why I expect a very complicated match.
As a collective they give their best, they’re a difficult team to face even on crosses and second balls.
They have two good wide players like Candreva and Mazzocchi who make the difference, it will be difficult to beat them.
He touched on his growth under Maurizio Sarri.
The coach and the staff help me every day to improve, there is a continuous talk on the situations that happen in every match, which then becomes an opportunity to grow. We are doing a great job and we still want to do better.
The Italian midfielder spoke about if he studied Sarri’s former teams when the Italian coach arrived last year.
At the beginning, when I heard he was coming to Lazio, I studied a few games of his past teams. But then I realised that football has changed, moved on, his Napoli team for example was different from today’s football.
Years ago few teams built up from the back, while now practically all do and there’s the fashion of man to man.
Finally, Cataldi discussed his desire to start finding the back of the net more.
Definitely yes, the goals are a bit lacking. A midfielder who scores definitely has an extra piece in his repertoire. Even though it’s an important thing though, I don’t look so much at personal goals but at doing well and bringing home results for the team.
The 28-year-old Cataldi has made 14 appearances across all competitions this season under Sarri, for a total of 1002 minutes. He’s grown into an important defensive midfielder under the Italian coach, taking over from the departed Lucas Leiva.
