- 27/11/2023
Lazio boss Maurizio Sarri and attacker Pedro preview UEFA Champions League clash with Glasgow Celtic
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00:00 Welcome to the Matchday Man 1 press conference in Lazio's Celtic Glasgow.
00:10 With me are the coach Maurizio Sarri and Pedro Rodriguez Ledesma.
00:15 I would like to ask you to state your name and your title.
00:21 We also have a translation with Vincenzo, which must be simultaneous.
00:26 Let's start with Simonelli, Lazio Stag.
00:29 Good afternoon coach. What messages did you receive from the team in the following hours after the defeat to Salerno?
00:36 And if it's also a good thing to be back on the pitch after a few days?
00:41 I don't want to receive messages now, I want to receive messages tomorrow.
00:49 We lost a game because of our superficiality, we lost a game because of our lack of determination.
00:57 We lost a game in a bad way.
01:01 So the team must respond, but I'm not interested in words, the team must respond on the pitch.
01:09 So the question is, what are the main signals after the loss against Salerno?
01:19 We want to see signals tomorrow, we need to do better because there was lack of determination in what we did.
01:26 It's a bad match, I want to see something positive being done tomorrow.
01:30 Erika Zetta, Sporting.
01:35 Good evening coach. We left Salerno, you also called for the club to intervene to get out of the situation.
01:45 I want to know if this intervention was made.
01:48 The director did it in a very tough way, so I'm happy about that because I think it was necessary.
02:01 He made a good intervention, I liked it.
02:09 We talked about a possible intervention that was about to be made.
02:14 The director did that and it was indeed a positive intervention and it was very much needed in that moment.
02:23 Cardona, Repubblica, then welcome to the media.
02:27 Good evening coach, I want to know, among the various aspects that didn't work in Salerno,
02:32 the mental, the character, the tactics, the first thing that you expect to improve,
02:40 and then in difficult moments you usually cling to the old guard, you expect something more from them.
02:49 Is it the same for you this time? Do you ask them for something more or is it a more general discussion?
02:56 No, now we have to reset, there are no more old guards, there are new ones and the players available are these.
03:03 You have to choose from these without any kind of hesitation, under any point of view.
03:11 It is useless to talk about tactics, when a team enters the field less active than the opponents, the tactics then become influential.
03:20 The tactics help when the opponents are at the same level as the opponents.
03:26 If you are not there, there is no tactics.
03:30 Among the different aspects that come into play in these kind of matches, technical, tactical,
03:37 are you going to expect something from the most experienced players here?
03:41 Yes, of course, but at the same time everyone will have to do their part, we have to play without fear.
03:49 Tactics are important when you have all the other elements that are required in these important matches.
03:56 But before that there is a determination and lack of fear.
03:59 Good morning, what you said is very right, but among the criticisms that are moving in Lazio at the moment,
04:10 there is also that of a possible too wide predictability.
04:14 Are you thinking about some different approach?
04:18 These are absolutely common places and they have no reason to exist.
04:23 Barcelona has dominated Europe for 10 years and they have always played in the same way.
04:27 These are bar speeches that I am not interested in at all.
04:35 Among the different criticisms made to Lazio, somebody said that they are easy to foresee.
04:42 What do you think, do you agree?
04:44 These stereotypes are of no importance to me.
04:47 Barcelona dominated for years, played always the same way.
04:51 So I don't care about what they say.
04:59 I wanted to ask you, several players have been here for many years, Parolo, Radu,
05:08 they have always said that the seasons are understood also from the moment of the break,
05:13 from the serenity that is felt during the break.
05:16 I ask you, in the past months, during the break, did you feel that there was a different atmosphere?
05:23 No, this year the break was done on good levels from all points of view.
05:27 After the break something has changed, but after the break the atmosphere in the team was on a good level.
05:41 Many players, like Parolo and Radu, back in the day, talked about the importance of the pre-season time
05:48 that you spent together with the team.
05:50 That is very important, that is key to the season every year.
05:55 What do you think?
05:56 Of course it is important, it was a very good moment for us.
05:59 This year, after that, something changed, but during that period the atmosphere was great.
06:05 Let's continue with the Scottish press.
06:11 Good morning.
06:12 What impression did you have of Celtic in this round and what do you expect from them tomorrow?
06:17 Celtic are a good team, a team that has good rhythms, good intensity, technical discrepancy.
06:24 It is not a simple team to face.
06:28 We should not even be disappointed by the negative results on the road,
06:36 because these are two games conditioned by numerical inferiority.
06:41 A double in the Netherlands and after 15 minutes in Spain.
06:47 It is a good team and it will be a complicated game.
06:56 What are your impressions of Celtic's performance?
07:02 I think they have a good rhythm, good pace, intensity, good technical skill.
07:07 It is not going to be an easy match.
07:09 Of course, we don't have to be conditioned by the fact that they lost in their away matches.
07:16 I believe that in those cases the matches were conditioned by the fact that they had
07:21 one or two players less against Feyenoord and Atletico Madrid.
07:26 Good evening, coach.
07:32 I wanted to ask you about a difficult moment in the game,
07:38 like tomorrow's game, what does a coach do?
07:43 Nothing, you prepare the game.
07:47 I said it yesterday, now it is time to try to compact without insisting
07:55 on all our goals in the game against Salerno.
07:59 It is time to compact with great hope and then the atmosphere in the Champions League
08:05 will give us something more.
08:07 I wish you the best of luck for the game that you have tomorrow.
08:13 It is indeed a delicate moment right now.
08:16 How are you preparing right now?
08:19 Yesterday we already talked about that.
08:22 We need to be compact and we hope that the UCL atmosphere will give us that boost
08:28 that we really need.
08:30 In these three years, given the difficult moments, especially with the young players
08:40 you have never been able to explain how to solve this problem.
08:46 It is a problem that has been going on for 10 years, not since Cesari.
08:49 It happened with Pioli, it happened with Inzaghi.
08:53 How is it possible to solve this mental problem?
08:59 First of all, and lastly, if you can give us a little bit of the unfortunate,
09:03 because apart from the delicate moment, there is also a dramatic moment in the infirmary.
09:07 The mentality depends on two thousand factors.
09:12 It is not just the words of the coach.
09:16 The players change, the coaches change.
09:19 So, probably, at the environmental level, something is transmitted little.
09:26 I don't know, it is difficult to identify the real reasons.
09:31 But if the environment can change the players and the coaches,
09:35 we will continue to have a certain type of problem.
09:38 Most likely, the environmental problem.
09:40 The situation of the injured is with Zaccagni clearly out,
09:47 Romagnoli still out, Casale is improving but still not ready for the games.
09:57 He is better at Robella. Today we do the last training and then we draw the sums.
10:06 Over the last three years, we saw some kind of trends.
10:12 We are in difficulties against top clubs and also against less good clubs.
10:19 How do you solve this attitude problem that we have?
10:23 And second question, related to injuries.
10:25 I guess there are many factors that come into play in these situations.
10:28 And I think that if you see these trends going on, also when players change,
10:35 and also when coaches change, you need to find the key elements that cause that.
10:39 I think that we are talking about some environmental reasons here.
10:42 Injury wise, we have Zaccagni out, Romagnoli still out, Casale not ready yet.
10:48 Robella is getting better but we are going to see during the last training session.
10:54 Thank you. We thank the Lazio coach, Maurizio Sarri.
10:59 We continue with Pedro, who answers questions from Lazio Style. Please, Simonelli.
11:04 Good afternoon, Pedro. Your goal in the first leg allows Lazio to face Celtic with their fate in their hands.
11:12 What are the obstacles that the match tomorrow can hide? Thank you.
11:16 It will be a difficult match, definitely.
11:19 It's always like this in the Champions League. They played very well there, at Celtic Park.
11:25 It will be a very difficult match.
11:28 They are a good team, a physical team, a strong team.
11:32 They play well with the ball.
11:34 As I said, all the Champions League matches are difficult.
11:38 Tomorrow will be another final for us.
11:41 At the same time, it's a great opportunity to get back to our best game.
11:46 We are going to play in front of our fans.
11:49 We hope to play a good game and go on with the win.
11:54 Your goal in the match against Celtic allows us to control the situation right now.
12:04 But what are the challenges that we face?
12:06 I think every UCL match is difficult.
12:09 They played well also at Celtic Park.
12:11 They are a very tough and physical team.
12:14 It's going to be another final for us.
12:17 Of course, it's going to be an opportunity for us to play in the best possible way.
12:22 We hope we're going to do good.
12:26 (Pedro, how special a moment that goal was for you in Glasgow? How much it would mean to you to repeat it tomorrow night? And if there's anyone in particular in the Celtic team you respect?)
12:52 I don't know how to say it in English.
12:56 (It was a special moment for you. You're going to repeat it tomorrow. What do you like about Celtic? Who do you like the most?)
13:07 They have a very good team.
13:10 They have important players like Furi Hasi and Joe Hart.
13:16 They are very experienced players.
13:19 They are a tough team to beat.
13:23 MacGregor plays well with the ball.
13:26 He's a player who has already played a good game.
13:29 They are a tough team.
13:32 They have a good game with the ball.
13:37 It's difficult to play against them sometimes.
13:41 We saw it in the first leg.
13:44 We'll see how they are tomorrow.
13:47 But in general, they are a good team with great players.
13:52 (What do you think about the Celtic team?)
13:55 We have a number of very interesting players.
13:58 Joe Hart is a very experienced player.
14:01 MacGregor is difficult to play against.
14:04 He's very technical.
14:05 He plays the ball very well.
14:07 We saw during the initial match that it was difficult to play against them because they play the ball well.
14:18 We hope we can play well against them.
14:21 (Hi, you won everything and played at great levels. You are a master in the dressing room.)
14:30 (What is missing every year? You are there less than the others.)
14:36 (What is the decisive component that leads the team to have these injuries?)
14:40 (And what is missing for you, the forwards, since last year you were decisive for the Champions League?)
14:47 I don't know.
14:49 It's difficult to find the reasons.
14:53 We are working well.
14:56 Obviously, there is something that doesn't work, that doesn't go well compared to last year.
15:01 Compared to many games we have played,
15:04 certainly against the teams that we have not been able to do well.
15:15 I'm not talking about the win, but about playing a good game,
15:20 taking the game in your hands.
15:23 It's difficult.
15:25 We have to self-criticize and go back to the beginning.
15:32 It's basic.
15:33 We have to run more, put the desire and concentrate on the pitch.
15:37 This gives us a little confidence.
15:40 Everything depends on the result.
15:42 When you have such a negative dynamic,
15:45 it's difficult to get back on the pitch in the best possible way,
15:51 to be calm and to play free and unblocked.
15:54 It's difficult because you are under the pressure that you have to win by force,
15:58 because otherwise you don't stand out in the table.
16:00 I think we have to go game by game,
16:04 think that we have to play this game.
16:06 We don't have to look at the table.
16:09 We have to go game by game.
16:12 Obviously, the margin of error in the league is very low.
16:16 As I said, we have to go back to the beginning.
16:20 I think we have to give everything on the pitch,
16:23 be focused and see if the result in the end is in our hands.
16:30 What are the key elements that you need to win?
16:34 We talked about the key elements that we need here to win.
16:40 Also, the strikers.
16:42 What do they need to have to have better performances?
16:45 I think we are working well, but we could work better.
16:49 I think we didn't win as much as we could have won.
16:53 Not only in terms of results,
16:55 but we could do better also in terms of the way we play.
16:58 I think we could run more, be more determined and more concentrated.
17:03 I think we are trying to find the right balance to play the best possible way.
17:07 We're going to try and play match after match.
17:10 It's not time to look at the ranking right now,
17:13 but we can't lose anymore.
17:15 We're trying to give everything on the pitch.
17:18 Of course, if you're going to be more concentrated,
17:21 you're going to get better results.
17:23 That's for sure.
17:25 Catina, please.
17:51 I always say that the fans always do what they do.
17:56 When we play at home, they're always with us.
18:00 Even when we've been playing poorly,
18:03 especially in this difficult moment,
18:06 after the game against Sardinia,
18:09 we've talked to them.
18:11 They're always there, always with us,
18:13 they give us a hand.
18:15 Obviously, if they're at their best,
18:18 they're always a player for us on the pitch.
18:22 I expect that tomorrow they'll be with us.
18:27 That's fundamental for us.
18:31 We mentioned a couple of very interesting aspects.
18:35 Determination and also the support.
18:38 They're going to be of help tomorrow.
18:40 Do you think they're going to be of help?
18:42 They're going to have an impact on tomorrow's game.
18:45 Of course, they're always with us.
18:47 Also, in tough moments,
18:49 we also talked to Salernitana,
18:52 and they were with us.
18:54 They can actually be the additional player
18:57 on the pitch with us,
18:59 and we have good expectations from supporters tomorrow.
19:02 They're going to be with us.
19:28 As an expert footballer,
19:31 how did you find playing against Scottish teams?
19:35 What kind of game are you expecting tomorrow?
19:42 It's going to be a very tough game.
19:45 As I said, they have a good team,
19:48 they play well.
19:50 I've always played against teams like this,
19:53 and Scottish are a very strong team,
19:56 with a lot of physical and tactical skill.
19:59 Tomorrow is not going to be an easy game.
20:02 We're expecting a very tough game.
20:07 We'll see if we can do a good job,
20:10 and move on to the win.
20:14 Tomorrow is going to be a tough match.
20:17 They're a good club, I've already said that.
20:20 In my career, they've always been very strong players,
20:24 physical clubs, very tactical too.
20:27 Tomorrow is not going to be an easy match,
20:30 and we know it's going to be an intense, tough match.
20:33 Another question?
20:35 Can you describe the goal you scored at Glasgow?
20:38 The joy of that moment,
20:40 the confidence you felt.
20:43 Yes, it was a good goal.
20:45 To score a win like that,
20:48 at the last minute,
20:50 in such a beautiful stadium.
20:53 It was special for me,
20:56 to score here at Lazio,
20:59 and also in the Champions League.
21:03 It's always great to score,
21:05 at the last minute,
21:07 and to win like that,
21:10 and celebrate in front of the fans.
21:14 It was very special for the team.
21:17 Hopefully, tomorrow we can score again,
21:20 and play a good match,
21:22 and have a special moment,
21:25 like we had at Celtic Park.
21:33 Can you describe what you felt when you scored that goal?
21:37 A very important goal.
21:39 Scoring at the last minute is always something beautiful.
21:42 It was wonderful.
21:44 When I scored at Lazio,
21:47 at UCL, it's always good to score,
21:49 but on that occasion it was fantastic.
21:52 At the last minute, I went to celebrate with all our supporters,
21:56 and we hope we can do something similar tomorrow.
22:00 The last questions.
22:02 Cardone, Repubblica, then Cagnina.
22:04 The last two questions.
22:06 Hi, Petro.
22:08 You spoke about the new players.
22:14 What are they?
22:16 Do you think they can contribute more?
22:22 What are their strengths?
22:26 Sarri's game often involves certain mechanisms
22:30 that are not easy to apply.
22:35 Do you always have the same determination
22:39 to follow the instructions and the game,
22:41 which is very special for the coach?
22:44 Yes, of course.
22:46 We always try to do our best on the pitch.
22:50 It's the same with Sarri.
22:52 He prepares for each game differently,
22:56 and it depends on the team we play against.
22:59 I'm watching the new players closely.
23:04 They're all strong players,
23:06 and they've just joined.
23:08 They're playing very well.
23:10 It's true that the first year is always difficult,
23:14 because you go to another country,
23:17 another league,
23:19 and you have to play a different game.
23:22 It's a very different game.
23:24 It's always difficult.
23:27 But I think that everyone is focused.
23:32 There's room for improvement.
23:34 We're going to get better.
23:40 I'm happy about that.
23:42 All the players who came here
23:44 want to win and do well.
23:46 For us, who have more experience,
23:49 it's a joy to be here for a longer time.
23:54 It's always good.
23:56 You're talking about the level of integration
24:01 for the new players in the team.
24:04 How are they doing?
24:05 Are they integrating in the Sarri style,
24:09 in this new vision?
24:11 Do you think that it's difficult to play
24:13 according to Sarri's mechanisms?
24:16 Are you willing to follow him?
24:18 Of course we are.
24:19 We always try to give our best on the pitch.
24:22 But every game is different,
24:23 and we prepare it differently.
24:26 All new players are doing good right now.
24:28 The first year can be difficult
24:31 because you play in a new country,
24:33 in a new way of playing,
24:36 in a new league,
24:37 and it's always difficult.
24:39 But they're all focused,
24:40 they're trying to do their best,
24:42 improving day by day.
24:44 We all feel that they have the desire to win.
24:47 The most experienced players,
24:49 which we are,
24:50 of course we are happy about
24:52 what they are doing right now.
24:54 Good evening, Pedro.
24:57 There's no doubt that this is a moment
24:59 in which we need cohesion.
25:00 I ask you,
25:01 after the game against Salerno,
25:03 Sarri said,
25:04 "If it's a problem, I'll go."
25:06 So I ask you,
25:07 how did you receive this phrase?
25:10 And if tomorrow,
25:11 in the case of Lazio going to the tie,
25:13 would it be important to go and hug the coach?
25:17 Yes, he's a coach,
25:20 he's a special person.
25:22 Obviously, he's very perfectionist.
25:26 When things don't go well,
25:28 or the work doesn't go well,
25:30 there's definitely a bit of frustration,
25:33 to put it in a way.
25:35 But I think he's a special coach
25:38 for this team.
25:39 I hope he stays here for many years,
25:42 because I think he can give this team that leap.
25:46 But it's like that.
25:49 Unfortunately, football is like that.
25:52 When you lose two or three games,
25:54 you're not doing well in the league table.
25:56 It seems like everything is a drama.
25:59 I don't think it's like that.
26:01 It's true that now we're,
26:03 as I said before,
26:04 far from the top of the league table.
26:06 But we have to try to give everything on the pitch,
26:10 be focused, train hard every day.
26:12 And then, the results will come from us.
26:15 Because, as I said,
26:17 I think we have the level,
26:18 we have a good team, a good coach.
26:20 I don't think he's the problem right now.
26:24 We're all talking to each other
26:26 to be united, to go forward.
26:28 I have faith in this team.
26:30 I think we'll go forward soon, for sure.
26:35 Yes, of course.
26:37 We all hope the same.
26:39 We hope to play a good game,
26:41 a good pre-season, a good win.
26:43 We're all with him, as I said.
26:45 In this sense, I think we're all calm.
26:49 In this moment of the season,
26:53 we need to be all together,
26:55 we need to be united.
26:57 Somebody said that Sarri could be the problem,
26:59 and he said, "If I'm the problem, I'm going to leave."
27:01 How did you feel in that moment?
27:03 Are you going to hug him?
27:05 Are you going to win tomorrow?
27:07 He's a special coach.
27:09 He's a perfectionist.
27:10 When you're a perfectionist
27:12 and you don't get the results,
27:13 it is frustrating.
27:16 I think he's a special coach for last year,
27:19 and he's helping raise the bar.
27:21 When you lose one or two games,
27:23 it is tough.
27:25 In this moment, we need to do better
27:30 and improve our ranking in Serie A.
27:33 Of course, if we play well
27:35 and if we train well, results are going to come.
27:37 But it's not the problem, of course.
27:39 We need to be more united.
27:41 If we're going to win, we're going to hug him 100%.
27:45 And of course, we hope for a win.
27:48 We're almost at the end of the interview.
27:50 Abba, please, you're next.
27:52 Hi, Pedro.
27:53 You said that you hope Sarri will stay in Lazio for many years.
27:56 After Glasgow, you were very clear.
27:58 You said, "I'm staying."
27:59 But then we read an interview in Spain
28:01 where you said, "I'm going back to Barcelona."
28:04 Has anything changed for January or June?
28:07 No, no.
28:09 I'm here, I'm very well.
28:13 I've said it many times.
28:15 Obviously, my family is there, my children are there.
28:19 But this is not something that determines.
28:24 I think I'm here, I'm well.
28:27 I have this contract.
28:29 As I said, we'll talk about it later.
28:32 But right now, it's something I don't think about.
28:36 I'm here, I'm well.
28:38 I want to finish the season well,
28:40 finish well with the team.
28:42 That's why I work every day.
28:44 I work to go out on the pitch and give my best,
28:47 help the team.
28:49 I hope to finish this season here.
28:52 We'll talk later and see what happens.
28:55 During the interview, you probably mentioned the fact
29:03 that you might want to go to Barcelona.
29:07 Maybe July, June.
29:10 Has anything changed?
29:12 Even though you also mentioned some months ago
29:15 that you wanted to stay here.
29:17 What do you say on that?
29:19 I want to stay here.
29:21 My family is there, but of course I have my contract here.
29:24 I'm playing well and I want to end my season here.
29:28 Which is why I work out every day to go to the pitch
29:31 and try my best.
29:33 But of course I hope to end my season here
29:36 and end it well, of course, with good results.
29:40 I'll come back to the offensive phase.
29:43 That's a fundamental problem,
29:45 even if it's a defensive one.
29:48 Lazio are not pulling from the outside.
29:50 Almost no one.
29:52 It's hard to see the gap in the goal.
29:56 You're a specialist in that regard.
29:58 You gave an explanation.
30:00 Last year, Felipe Andersson, Zaccani, you and Immobile
30:03 were the strength.
30:05 This season, however, that's what's missing.
30:10 We don't end games where we can say
30:14 "but there were penalties, cross, many saves by the goalkeeper".
30:17 That's not happening. Why?
30:19 I don't know.
30:21 It's true that we have to improve, all the players in this sense.
30:24 We know that.
30:26 It's not something that we don't talk about.
30:28 We know that.
30:30 We're aware that we have to do better.
30:32 It's a matter of the game.
30:34 When you have the game in your hands,
30:36 you take the ball,
30:38 you play well and create more chances.
30:40 It's true that we're working on all these aspects every day.
30:45 It's not something that you can hide.
30:49 You have to self-criticise all the attackers.
30:52 I understand that.
30:57 We're all trying to work and do better.
31:01 I think that, as you said,
31:03 last year we were strong and forward.
31:07 When we had a chance to score,
31:10 we were always at the door.
31:13 It's not that easy now.
31:15 We have to find the best form, the best confidence,
31:18 the best game to move forward in this sense
31:21 and create a more aggressive team.
31:26 What do you think about the new offensive mechanism?
31:31 Talking about the offensive mechanism,
31:35 this year you haven't been dangerous.
31:38 Not a long-distance shot.
31:40 You're not dangerous in that sense.
31:43 Last year with Immobile and Zaccani,
31:45 that was a strength of last year.
31:47 What is going on?
31:49 I don't know what is going on right now.
31:51 We know that we need to improve.
31:53 We need to do better.
31:55 Of course, it also depends on how you play.
31:58 We're working hard every day to be more dangerous.
32:01 Last year we were more offensive, more dangerous.
32:06 Our shots were always on target.
32:10 We are working now to get positive results in that sense too.
32:15 Thank you.
32:20 We'll stay here.
32:21 Thank you, Pedro Rodriguez.
32:23 The training session is scheduled for 3.15 pm.
32:26 We'll stay here in the press room and then we'll go to the pitch.
32:29 Thank you.
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