Excited and tense for your debut? This is one of the questions to which Igor TudorLazio’s new coach, responded in a press conference on the eve of the delicate match at the Olimpico against Juventus: “The sensations are always positive, in sport you always think about the challenge, of being able to win. Sport is joy. The stadium is full “It will be nice, there will be a lot of motivation, but it must be prepared in the right way from every point of view. I’m thinking about preparing the team and not about emotions.”
The profound difference with Sarri is the way of defending. Before, the ball was the reference, with it it becomes the man. Does this step happen immediately?
“There are two things that penalize this change. Lazio have been working this way for three years and then there was Sarri who is a strong coach. You have to be smart. The form is important but not as many people think. Maybe you start with a module, but then it becomes another pattern. The three-man defense? You’ll see it soon, we’ll see tomorrow.”
Do you already have a typical team in mind or will you change many players in the next close matches?
“It’s a particular situation, everyone will necessarily have to play. It’s the first match, after the international break, and then there are two matches in 4 days. The 5 changes are important. I also have to understand the team, training is one thing, matches are another. I have to evaluate players who can improve and who can follow your football. Then you have to win, you have to do well right away, you need to be tough and have the right quality.”
Read Igor Tudor’s full press conference here
