Matteo Guendouzi, the Lazio midfielder, spoke in an interview about the Rome derby, emphasizing its significance. He mentioned that upon arriving at Lazio, fans immediately made him aware of the derby`s importance, even months in advance. For them, it`s considered the most crucial game, a battle for Roman dominance until the next derby. Guendouzi highlighted the electric atmosphere in the shared stadium, with passionate fans from both Roma and Lazio creating a unique environment.
He recounted coach Sarri`s words about the Rome derby being the most important game he had experienced due to fan passion, underscoring the necessity to achieve a positive result. Winning brings immense happiness and pride, a sense of accomplishment for the fans, while defeat leads to difficult days.
Guendouzi likened the Rome derby to other major rivalries like PSG vs. Marseille or Lyon vs. Marseille, where players are driven to prove their superiority. He attributed the dispute with Dybala to the high stakes, nervousness, and frustration inherent in such a significant match. Guendouzi admitted to reacting poorly in the heat of the moment but considered such on-field clashes as part of the intense emotions of derby games. He noted Dybala`s reaction of showing his World Cup-winning shin guards and downplayed any further significance of the incident.