Marco Parolo admits Lazio paid the price for their lack of Champions League experience against Bayern Munich, where ‘a tenth of a second can make the difference.’
The second leg of the Round of 16 kicks off today at 20.00 GMT in Munich after a 4-1 home defeat.
Click here for the line-ups and LIVEBLOG.
Marco Parolo admits Lazio paid the price for their lack of Champions League experience against Bayern Munich, where ‘a tenth of a second can make the difference.’
The second leg of the Round of 16 kicks off today at 20.00 GMT in Munich after a 4-1 home defeat.
Click here for the line-ups and LIVEBLOG.
“The first leg certainly had a big impact on qualification, but we came here to prove we can play against one of the best teams in the world,” Parolo told Sky Sport Italia.
“We must learn from the first leg and show the hunger to prove we can have our say. Football is a strange sport and every game is different, so we can only try and see what happens.
“By experiencing these matches, it does give you a different atmosphere and the growth process means there can be some slip-ups, because we are not accustomed to being in this tournament.
“If we can get back here next season, we’ll have learned and grown, so we want to prove that Lazio belong in this competition.
“I think being accustomed to a Champions League Round of 16 makes a big difference, as adrenaline can play nasty tricks on you. I won’t say for Bayern it’s like preparing a friendly, but close enough.
“When we are playing against teams lower down on the ranking in Serie A, we can control our emotions more and not make unforced errors.”
Bayern Munich were very aggressive and seemed to be going at a different tempo to Lazio in the first leg.
“Analysing the game, we saw that they pressed really well and are excellent athletes as well as players, so even a tenth of a second can make the difference between getting to the ball or closing the gap. I think that is the difference between the top clubs and those who want to aim for that level.
“It was always a dream for me to play in Munich in the Champions League when I was a child, it’s a pity there are no fans here, but it remains an unforgettable night.”
Parolo was asked if he is considering a future as a coach or a director?
“At the moment, I’m still a player and want to give my best on the pitch. The football world teaches you so much and it would be wonderful to remain in this business after retirement to pass on some of that experience.”