Football Season Guide

After the end of the Maurizio Sarri era and the departure of glorious stars like Immobile, Milinkovic-Savic and Luis Alberto, it was clear that life would not have been very easy for Lazio, last season. In fact, with Marco Baroni at the helm, Lazio never really looked too sure of themselves and, too often, the feeling was that they lacked valid alternatives to their regulars. Nevertheless, they fought for a top 4 finish, and a qualification to the Champions League, until the very last week of the campaign but they actually committed suicide, winning only 1 out of the last 5 games, thus finishing on the 7th place, out of the European spots. While they held the 3rd-best attack of the league, Lazio were simply too fragile defensively, as they conceded almost 1.3 goals per game. Coach Baroni was eventually sacked and, for want of alternatives, Sarri was called back after one season spent watching TV. When he found out that Lazio were banned from signing new players for administrative reasons, the former Napoli and Juventus manager seriously considered resigning. He eventually reconsidered the situation but he cannot be optimistic for the season to come, especially given the fact that not all the players at his disposal are not suited for his playing style. While they will be allowed to sign free agents in due time, Lazio were only capable of signing permanently those players whose loans had come to an end: starting midfielder Rovella and key left-back and top assistman Tavares being the main ones. In goal, Provedel could be preferred to Mandas again, after losing the n.1 under Baroni late in the last season. No changes should occur at the back, where Gigot could earn more playing time after playing very little last season. In the midfield, Dele-Bashiru is set to become a protagonist, while Cataldi could become Rovella's deputy, after returning from a loan at Fiorentina. In the attack, they still lack an alternative to striker Castellanos, with Pedro now 36 and Dia slightly disappointing.