On the eve of the match between Lazio and Empolischeduled for Sunday 12 May at 12.30 pm, at the Olympic Stadium in Rome, the Biancoceleste coach spoke in a press conference from Formello Igor Tudorpresent the challenge.
What signals did you receive from the team?
“We worked well. There are three races left until the end, we want to continue this path we have started. The team was serious and focused, aware of the race. I saw good things.”
Sunday will be an important day for Lazio. Do you think the spirit of the ’74 team could be an inspiration? Will these three matches also be important for what comes next?
“The team and I are focused on the matches. There will be time for evaluations, we haven’t done any analysis on the market yet, for now we are only focused on the matches. The past always inspires, especially from such successful teams. We need to valorise successes like those of ’74”.
After Monza he was saddened, did he go back to the causes of what happened?
“We carried out an analysis as always, nothing more. We worked on what we didn’t like and confirmed what we liked. With little to the end we had three points in hand. I think the road will be straightened out, on Sunday we have to put in a great performance and take the points.”
Are you thinking of starting from Immobile again?
“Tomorrow we have finishing and we’ll see.”
Were there any reactions to the substitutions in Monza, was there a confrontation with Zaccagni and Luis Alberto?
“There are no matches in football in which these things don’t happen, they are things that concern football, the important thing is that they stay within the limits.”
What are the things you didn’t like against Monza?
“I don’t want to analyze Monza, that’s in the past. We worked on construction, on free kicks, on throw-ins, on staying low, on crossing, on the structure of the game.”
Is Lazio losing ground in Europe? Is it a challenge for you to try to take Lazio forward in Europe?
“In my life I always think about the present, making comparisons with others is of no use to others, this is what I say to footballers every day. If you grow and improve, you become stronger, that’s the goal, that’s how it goes forward. Then we see where the work takes you, the less you look at others the better, you can concentrate better on yourself.”
Lazio lost 18 points from an advantage situation, are you reflecting on this issue?
“Since I arrived, Lazio have been first in the table with Inter and Atalanta. I’m signing for the next ten years that we’ll follow paths like this.”
How is Provedel? How will he manage both goalkeepers now?
“Mandas worked well, Provedel is number one, he’s coming back from a major injury, he’s not ready for the next match yet.”
How are the defenders?
“The defenders have trained. Gila will definitely be back against Inter, let’s see if he will be on the bench on Sunday.”
Is there an ambition to improve and awareness of the means?
“There must always be ambition. You just have to think about how to improve yourself, without setting goals because it leads to nothing.”
