Lazio's head coach Marco Baroni spoke at the pre-match press conference ahead of their opening game in the Europa League against Dynamo Kyiv in Hamburg. He mentioned that despite the high expectations set for the tournament, the Roman side's rotation players will receive more opportunities and playing time in the match against Dynamo:
– It's a good and interesting new format for us; it's a high-level competition – every match we play is challenging. We are facing a strong team that came through the qualifiers, and it won't be easy on the pitch, but such important games are necessary for our growth. After our match against Fiorentina, we conducted a quick analysis. Although all defeats sting, I must say there were positive elements in our game. In every match, we created a lot – we had shots on goal and earned corners, while only allowing a few attacks near our own net. However, we need to be sharper in front of goal and overall more effective, not just in attack but also in defense – that is our goal, but I'm used to taking things step by step. That's why the match against Dynamo is so crucial. The Europa League is one of Lazio's objectives; it’s not only a wonderful tournament but also an opportunity for both young players who need experience and veterans to gain game time. This is my debut in European competitions – the beauty of coaching is that you never know what you can achieve, but you can reach your goals if you have immense determination to do so, so I am happy and focused, just like my whole team. We want to play a great match; therefore, we need to perform strongly tomorrow – I can already see our starting lineup, and I am confident that each player will give their all, even if those who usually play less are on the pitch. Castellanos is eager to play as he feels better now, although he hasn’t trained for the last five days. Tati is an important player for us, but we will see if he can take to the field; he is available to play, but I have to think of others as well – striker Noslin had a good match in Florence, he fought hard even though he didn’t score. But Tidjan is still a young lad; he is developing, and such matches can help him in that regard, plus he can play anywhere in attack, moving around the pitch is not a problem for him. As for the goalkeeper – that’s a special role, young Mandas is feeling good, he is very valuable for us, but I believe he will have more chances, and against Dynamo, we will almost certainly trust Provedel.
Baroni's comments suggest a clear plan for Lazio's Europa League campaign. The coach is prioritizing player development and providing opportunities for those who haven't been getting regular minutes in Serie A. With Castellanos returning from injury, he is expected to feature but is unlikely to start as he needs more time to regain full fitness. The coach is also keen to utilize the Europa League as a chance for other young players like Noslin to shine. The clash against Dynamo Kyiv is a crucial one for Lazio, and while Baroni is focusing on a step-by-step approach, it's clear that the Europa League is a significant objective for the club. It remains to be seen how Lazio will perform in this new format, but with a strong squad and a clear strategy, they have the potential to make a significant impact on the competition.
