Baroni: ‘Lazio aggressive and with ambition’ against Ajax | OneFootball

Marco Baroni asked Lazio to be ‘aggressive’ against Ajax in Amsterdam and they are growing in ‘ambition’ in the Europa League. ‘We need to launch young players and let them learn on the field.’

It was a dominant 3-1 performance at the Johan Cruijff ArenA from the Biancocelesti, who retain top spot in the Europa League table.

Loum Tchaouna, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and a late Pedro scorcher cancelled out the temporary Bertrand Traore equaliser, taking them up to 16 points from six games.

“We are working hard and can dream, with heads down and humility, but also ambition,” Baroni told Sky Sport Italia.

“The team needs to grow with this level of performance, as I told them we had to be aggressive and stop Ajax from keeping the ball. The lads are hearing that message more and more, understanding the importance of the high press.

“I saw unity, spirit, but also concentration. I am happy, I had the feeling this team needed to be launched and when I did it, they followed me, understanding both what we need to do and where we must still improve.”

This was no mean feat, as Lazio became only the seventh Italian side to win in Amsterdam and Ajax’s previous three European home fixtures had seen them score 12 goals, conceding zero.

Baroni ‘not surprised’ by spectacular Lazio

AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS – DECEMBER 12: Loum Tchaouna of SS Lazio celebrates a opening goal during the UEFA Europa League 2024/25 League Phase MD6 match between AFC Ajax and S.S. Lazio at Johan Cruijff Arena on December 12, 2024 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images)

The Aquile would’ve had a 100 per cent record in the Europa League, if not for the controversial penalty snub against Ludogorets, where the referee ignored advice from his own VAR.

“I am not surprised by this. These lads have quality, we need to break down this resistance in Italian football of not risking young players. We have to play them and they learn by making mistakes too. There’s no better way to learn than by playing matches at this level.

“The more important games we play, it means we are raising the bar,” added Baroni.

Tchaouna scored and assisted today, but is he improving in terms of helping out defensively?

“He has improved a lot, we already saw it in the Coppa Italia against Napoli. He lost the full-back a couple of times today, he still is a bit too instinctive and needs to understand when he shouldn’t risk losing possession in dangerous situations, but he’s learning.

“I want my wingers to cut inside and he has a good shot, so he’s got an eye for goal.”

Gustav Isaksen struggled badly in his first season at Lazio, while Dele-Bashiru seems to have flourished now that he is dropped into the two-man midfield by Baroni.

“Dele-Bashiru comes from a different football where he doesn’t need as much focus. His physicality is devastating and he has good technique, but where he needs to improve and he is doing that is matching the speed of his brain to his legs. When he does that, he becomes really a remarkable midfielder.

“As for Isaksen, he had a lot of competition for places at Lazio in his first season and wasn’t getting much regular playing time. When I said you need to just let these young players go, I also mean Isaksen. I want my forwards to make decisions in the final third and to be given the confidence to take those risks,” concluded Baroni.