Marco Baroni recognises Lazio benefited from the early FC Twente red card, but ‘attack is the best form of defence’ to create that situation for the Europa League leaders, who condemned racist abuse of Loum Tchaouna.
The Biancocelesti received a huge boost just 11 minutes into the match at the Grolsch Veste Stadium in Enschede when Boulaye Dia sprung the offside trap and was hacked down by Lars Unnerstall, leading to an inevitable red card for the goalkeeper.
Despite being against 10 men for 80 minutes, they wasted numerous chances, only scoring with Pedro before a late Gustav Isaksen tap-in consolidated the 2-0 victory.
It was still a remarkable result considering FC Twente were unbeaten in their last 12 competitive home fixtures.
“It all went well because the team prepared carefully for a complicated match. The atmosphere is fiery, this is a young team that loves to press high even when down to 10 men, so I told the lads at half-time I expected them to show maturity. This was a tie we needed to kill off and even then keep our heads in the game,” Baroni told Sky Sport Italia.
Samuel Gigot finally received his debut in defence after an injury in pre-season, while Pedro is really relishing his new role in this 4-2-3-1 formation.
“I am happy for Samuel, he can give this team a great deal. He’s got character and charisma, we have him back in the squad. It’s a process for players who come to a new league, they need to be given time and space to get used to a different way of dealing with preparation and game management, but after that they will have exponential growth.”
Baroni wants ‘beauty’ in Lazio’s football
Isaksen said that all the Lazio forwards are happy with the way Baroni plays, as it gives them the opportunity to work together and keep pushing from all angles.
“Versatility is crucial in modern football and I feel that beauty is essential in the game. I tell the lads they can lose matches, but have to play with this level of performance and approach.
“The team came here, immediately pressed high and made life difficult for Twente, a side who had two great performances so far in the Europa League.”
Lazio are top of the Europa League table because of their superior goal difference to Tottenham Hotspur and RSC Anderlecht, the only other teams to have won three out of three.
“I like a team that plays the ball, which in itself is also a matter of mentality and that becomes beauty. There was a moment in the game today where we slowed down the tempo and immediately Twente tried to get back into the match, so we cannot allow that to happen.
“As a coach, I decided to maintain four attacking players and told them that in order to do that, we all need to work together. We cannot handle four strikers if we don’t track back, so they acknowledged and understood that. There is a lot of work to be done, we know that, but we’re pleased so far.
“I like to motivate the team during the week and they are receptive to it. This is a team that knows attack is the best form of defence.”
Loum Tchaouna seemed very angry straight after the second goal and was immediately substituted, telling the Lazio staff that he heard racist abuse.
“I think he heard some monkey noises and was obviously upset. I tried to reassure him. The fourth official recognised the situation, I was about to replace Pedro, but I saw Tchaouna was not in the right mindset to remain on the pitch and allowed me to change the substitution,” confirmed Baroni.
