Lotito Explains Lazio Summer Revamp: “When Something Isn’t Working You Change It”
Lazio president Claudio Lotito insists a summer overhaul was necessary following last season’s outcome.
The Biancocelesti finished seventh in the Serie A table last term in what was a largely disappointing league campaign. Their former coach Maurizio Sarri resigned from his post in March, making way for Igor Tudor.
However, the situation hardly improved during the Croatian’s short reign at Formello, especially on the moral level. The former Juventus defender alienated some players and requested a full-blown squad revolution so he could have a new crew capable of interpreting his own tactical ideas, but the management didn’t share his plans, so he was replaced by Marco Baroni.
So while Lazio didn’t pull off a major makeover as Tudor sought, they still rang significant changes to the team. Locker-room senators Ciro Immobile, Luis Alberto, Felipe Anderson and Danilo Cataladi all left, alongside Daichi Kamada and Nicolo Casale.
The club brought in the likes of Tijjani Noslin, Boulaye Dia, Nuno Tavares, Loum Tchaouna, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Gaetano Castrovilli and Samuel Gigot to replace them. While these aren’t exactly household names, the management believes the new blood will lay the foundations for a promising project.
For their part, Aquile fans all over the globe, from Rome all the way to Auckland, will be hoping for a prosperous campaign. They will certainly be backing their beloved club to victory even against the toughest opponents in Serie A and the Europa League. So if you’re looking for the best betting sites in new zealand to place a wager on Lazio, all you need to do is follow the link.
Meanwhile, Lotito explains why a revamp was necessary in the summer. The Biancocelesti patron notes how the team had lapses of concentration last season which cost them valuable points against smaller opposition. This convinced him to part ways with a host of star players as he revealed while chatting with reporters via La Lazio Siamo Noi.
Lazio definitely needed a squad revamp. We were one of the oldest teams, not only in Serie A but also in Europe and now we are making it younger. We had to review those who took the field, not only based on age but also on the potential to be able to reach important goals.
It was essential to create a united, strong, humble, determined group, with competitive ferocity and hunger. We sought players who consider Lazio a point of arrival and not a launching pad.
We didn’t reach the Champions League because we lost to the likes of Udinese, Lecce, Salernitana, Genoa and Verona. This proves there were lapses in concentration and team spirit. We want to avoid it this season. If something isn’t working, you change it, that’s why the protagonists were changed.