Marco Baroni is gearing up for what he calls the most important game of his career as he prepares to debut as head coach of Lazio. After leading lower-tier teams, he is ready for the challenge of managing a top-flight club, but he acknowledges that personal emotions must take a backseat to the demands of the job. With Lazio experiencing significant changes in their squad due to the summer transfer market, a strong start in a tough season is crucial.
Their first opponent, newly-promoted Venezia, is seen as a good opportunity for a fresh beginning, but Baroni isn’t underestimating them. He remarked, “On paper, it seems like an easy match, but it’s not because Venezia is a well-organized team. I watched their friendly against Utrecht, and I was impressed. It won’t be easy, but we have to make a strong start. We’ve faced some problems, particularly with Gila’s injury (he will return after the break), but overall, we are in good shape.”
While Baroni is reluctant to set specific goals, he does aim to improve on last season’s seventh-place finish. He has been experimenting with different formations during the preseason, utilizing both the 4-2-3-1 and 4-3-3 systems. However, he believes in a flexible approach rather than sticking to a rigid midfield setup. “I don’t believe in a positional midfield. I believe in fluid role exchanges and adapting our play depending on whether we are defending or attacking,” he explained.
Though he typically avoids discussing individual players, he made an exception for Gaetano Castrovilli, praising his vision, passing ability, and knack for scoring. “He’s working hard to find his best form. I am convinced he will be at 100% soon,” Baroni noted. For now, though, Castrovilli, along with fellow new signings Tavares and Dele-Bashiru, is expected to start on the bench.
Regardless of his lineup decisions, Baroni is focused on securing a positive result against Venezia. “There’s no point in making predictions or worrying about expectations; what matters is the present. We need to tackle this match against Venezia head-on and aim for three points.”