Roberto Rambaudi, former player and coach, recently discussed the current state of Marco Baroni`s Lazio squad as they prepare to face Juventus in the 36th round of Serie A on Saturday. Here are his key points:
Rambaudi anticipates that Baroni will largely maintain his core lineup for the match against Juventus, emphasizing that the team is unlikely to adopt a defensive posture. He predicted the attacking formation would likely involve Isaksen, Dia, and Zaccagni playing behind striker Castellanos, viewing Pedro as a valuable impact substitute later in the game. In defense, selection will depend on player fitness, with Marusic expected to start if fully fit.
Analyzing the opposition, Rambaudi highlighted Juventus` inherent strength, stressing the crucial need for Lazio to prevent them from gaining momentum early on. He noted that Juventus typically starts matches at a high tempo, a characteristic driven by both their tactical approach and the quality of their players. Rambaudi expressed greater concern over specific moments within the game potentially altering the outcome than over Lazio`s initial performance, suggesting the match could resemble their recent encounter with Inter.
On the choice between Gigot and Gila in defense, Rambaudi leaned towards starting Gigot against Juventus. While acknowledging that Gigot`s presence might make it harder for Lazio to retain possession and launch quick counter-attacks, potentially forcing them into more defensive duties, he argued that Gigot provides essential defensive solidity, focus, and security. He feels that with Gigot, the entire defense appears more attentive. Although Gila might possess superior technical skills, Rambaudi emphasized that the priority must be on what the team needs most in the given situation, considering player form and the opponent`s characteristics.