As Lazio prepare for a crucial clash with Juventus in the race for a Champions League spot, club captain Mattia Zaccagni sat down with Il Corriere dello Sport to discuss his journey, his loyalty to Lazio, and the high stakes of the upcoming match. With the fourth place on the line, Zaccagni’s words reflect both the pressure and the pride of leading the Biancocelesti.
“We Deserve This Because We Stayed Focused”
Reflecting on Lazio’s campaign, Zaccagni emphasized the team’s resilience:
“We deserve this because we have always stayed focused, we pushed forward even in difficult moments, and we never let ourselves get down after heavy defeats. I think Lazio is ready to play its chances.”
On Tudor: “He Gave Us a Shock, But His Style Wasn’t Always Right”
When asked about former coach Igor Tudor, Zaccagni was candid:
“Tudor here… (long pause). He only managed a few games, but when he arrived, he gave us a shock and allowed us to reach the Europa League. Is this a diplomatic answer because he made me play as a full-back? What can I say? That’s his interpretation of football-everything forward, everything man-to-man. It’s a style that many teams propose, but there are moments when you just can’t do it, it’s logical. I don’t know how things would have gone if he had stayed.”
He added about Tudor’s system:
“With Tudor, the winger needs to have pace and physicality. He looks for that engine.”
“Against Juventus, We’re Playing for Everything”
Looking ahead to the decisive fixture, Zaccagni made the stakes clear:
“We’re preparing for the match in the right way. We know that so much depends on this game-we’re playing for everything. I expect a tough match. Let’s start with this: Juventus, in terms of individuals, has a high level of quality. They’ll come to play a tough, physical game and will be hard to beat, but we’re fired up and ready.”
“Giuntoli Wanted Me, But My Heart Was Always with Lazio”
Zaccagni also revealed that Juventus director Cristiano Giuntoli had shown interest in bringing him to Turin, but his loyalty to Lazio prevailed:
“Yes, but I wanted to renew, because here I immediately felt like I was in a family. They welcomed me well, and I wanted to be part of something that felt like my own. I’m really happy with the choice I made and now I want to enjoy every possible satisfaction with this shirt. I don’t want people to think I chose the easiest path-if anything, I chose the hardest one, but I wanted it. I felt ready for greater responsibility, I didn’t want to become just a number. I thought about it for many months before signing. I was always clear with my agents. My first choice was Lazio. Of course, things happen in twos. If certain dynamics hadn’t occurred, I would have looked elsewhere.”
“Playing for Lazio Is Special-I’m Not Going Anywhere”
Zaccagni’s commitment to Lazio runs deep:
“Playing for Lazio is different, special. It makes you a fan of this story and this shirt. And I have no intention of leaving. Now that I’m here for good, I feel like I’ve had a great privilege in life. Many champions have played here. With the captain’s armband, I inherit from Ciro Immobile, who is a great friend and a big name in this league. My heart is here, where I’ve built something important and a beautiful family. Rome is Rome.”
The Mentality Under Marco Baroni
Zaccagni praised current manager Marco Baroni for his approach:
“In today’s football, you work a lot on the mental aspects and the coach works a lot on this, as well as all the technical things on the field. He’s really good at working on our mentality. The goal is always to take the field and have fun, because if you enjoy it, it means you’re doing the right things. We always try to give 110% on the field, which is what the coach asks of us.”
With the decisive match against Juventus looming, Zaccagni’s words capture the spirit of a captain determined to lead his team to new heights:
“We’re charged and ready. We know what’s at stake, and we want to give everything for this club and these fans.”