By Simone Cioni
The equal of Venice in Turin and the internal defeat of the Lecce with Napoli they offer a new opportunity to theEmpoli to overtake the two direct competitors for salvation in one fell swoop and take themselves out of the relegation zone. To do so, however, the Azzurri will have to beat the Lazio. A difficult task to say the least, given the value of Baroni’s team, still largely in the running for qualification for the Champions League. “We are facing a strong team with great technical qualities that, compared to the draw with Parma last weekend, this time did not have the midweek commitment of the cup – he explained Roberto d’Aversa during the match presentation –. We will have to be good when we have the ball and not give them space because they have several fast players who are good at attacking the depth, and at the same time we will have to be compact and determined when they have the ball because they also have great technical qualities to make you spin around and then find the hole. In short, they are a complete team, but now we can no longer think about who we have in front of us, but exclusively about giving our all to the last drop of sweat in these last four games so as not to have to regret not having given our best. Then in the end we will draw conclusions. To achieve salvation we must start to transform words into facts”.
Unfortunately, this time too there will be difficulties in the formation since there is a department, the midfield, that needs to be completely invented: in addition to the suspensions of Henderson and Grassi, Anjorin and Kovalenko will not be there due to physical problems, in addition to the injured players who have already ended the season, Haas and Maleh. In addition to Fazzini’s move back to midfield, almost a given despite the two consecutive goals by the Viareggio playmaker as a left-sided attacking midfielder, there could also be the advancement of Marianucci. The young defender from Livorno has in fact grown up as a midfielder in the youth teams and has already been used in that role, albeit for a few minutes, with Como and Verona (who knows, it might bring good luck since those were the last two Azzurri victories). “In the meantime, regarding Grassi’s disqualification, beyond our captain’s mistake, the fourth official lacked common sense and could have let it go as was done in many other situations during the match – continues the Italian coach -. Having said that, there are some solutions, not many, to replace both him and Henderson, we will also evaluate the performances of the individuals, but tomorrow (today for those reading, ed.) both the starter and the substitute will be important”.
The coach from Abruzzo then concludes with a consideration on the attitude that the team will have to have. “Now that the victory has not arrived for a long time we must try to do simple things, not get anxious, but be determined and convinced – concludes D’Aversa – and take to the field with that hunger to not concede goals at all costs as happened in the first part of the championship, because then in the last matches we have shown for better or worse that we know how to find the way to goal”.
Related news :