Lazio manager Marco Baroni urges his players to be fully focused against their upcoming European opponents Ludogorets.
The Biancocelesti are currently enjoying a purple patch, riding a seven-match winning streak across all competitions. They also sit on top of the Europa League table with a perfect record, while their Bulgarian foes have only managed to earn a single point from the first four fixtures.
Marco Baroni Sends Warning Ahead of Ludogorets Clash
Nevertheless, Baroni warned his men against underestimating Ludogorets in his pre-match press conference (via LazioNews24).
I don’t even want to contemplate the thought of underestimating a football match. The way I see it, we have the most important match of all at home, in front of our fans against a very respectable team. We have to move on from a great performance, and we certainly have the capacity to produce another good showing.
Three Lazio Players to Be Evaluated
The Lazio boss provided updates on Mattia Zaccagni and Alessio Romagnoli who picked up blows last Sunday against Bologna, as well as Fisayo Dele-Bashiru who returned from international duty carrying a slight knock.
Zaccagni has sustained a bruise and needs to be evaluated. Same thing with Romagnoli and then Dele who had a little problem and we are evaluating his condition.
Fisayo Dele-Bashiru & Tijjani Noslin’s Roles
Speaking of Dele-Bashiru, Baroni insists he has the required attributes to play as a central midfielder, while Tijjani Noslin will either feature on the wing or as a striker.
Dele has a lot of energy. He is a midfielder, he can play all over the pitch. He has quality, energy, and physical strength. He is a player who is still improving.
Noslin could start in the center. He is a player who tends to move inside, he is good near the goal, even as a winger. But I don’t like wingers who play too wide, with their foot on the touchline. The attackers must stay close to the goal.
European Ambitions
Finally, Baroni was asked if Lazio can go all the way in the European tournament.
It’s a difficult question. We have a strong mentality, in Italy we have this aspect that distinguishes us. It’s beautiful to play in Europe, it’s extraordinary to compete at this stage, and It’s a great opportunity for collective growth. We all have ambition inside us, and at this moment, we are doing well in Europe, but so are others.