Veteran winger Pedro defended coach Maurizio Sarri and tried to explain why Lazio have looked poor going forward ahead of their Champions League outing against Celtic.
The Biancocelesti’s 2-1 defeat to Salernitana on the weekend leaves the team in the bottom half of the Serie A table, far off the European qualification spots. Pressure has continued to mount on Sarri and there are now doubts regarding his future at the club.
Lazio sit in a decent position in their Champions League group and can secure a spot in the Round of 16 should they beat Celtic and Atletico Madrid take victory against Feyenoord. Progressing in Europe would help alleviate the pressure on Sarri and allow them to fully focus on climbing up the league table.
Speaking in a press conference via TMW, Pedro first discussed the difficulties Lazio face in their clash with Celtic.
“It will be difficult, like every match is in the Champions League. They are a good team, physical, strong, they also play well with the ball.
“It’s also a good opportunity for us to bounce back in front of our fans, we hope to put in a great performance and get a win.”
He was asked for the reasons behind the team’s decline this campaign.
“I don’t know, we’re working well but something isn’t working. We can’t play a good match against the less renowned teams, I’m not talking about victory, but about performance.
“We have to do self-criticism and go back to the origin, to the basic things, running more and showing the desire.
“When the results don’t arrive, pressure increases, and you can’t stay calm. We shouldn’t look at the table, even if the margin of error in the league is now low.”
The veteran winger commented on the importance of the Biancocelesti fans.
“They are always with us and help us every match. We also spoke with them after Salerno. If they are at their best, for us it’s as if we had an extra player. I expect this tomorrow.”
Pedro discussed his history against Scottish clubs.
“They are very physical and tactical. Tomorrow will be no different, it will be long and tough. My goal in the first leg was special, in that beautiful stadium and under the section of the Lazio fans. In the Champions League it’s always nice to score goals, especially in the last minute.”
He gave his thoughts on the work of the new signings.
“I’m seeing everyone doing good, they’re very strong. The first year is always complicated when you arrive from another country, from another idea of the game. They have the right attitude, they want to win and for us this is very important.”
The 2010 World Cup winner defended coach Sarri.
“He is a special person, he is a perfectionist. Obviously when the work doesn’t go well there is a bit of frustration. I hope he stays here for many years, I think he can help us make the leap.
“Unfortunately, in football it works like this, if you lose two games it becomes a drama. Sarri is not the problem at the moment, we are saying it too, we are convinced of it.
“A hug to Sarri in case of a goal? Yes of course, we are all with him, he is a special coach.”
He spoke about his plans for the future.
“I feel very comfortable here, but obviously my family is in Barcelona, my children are there. At the end of my contract, we’ll talk and see what happens, but I’m not thinking about it now. We want to finish the season well here.”
Finally, Pedro tried to explain Lazio’s issues in front of goal this season.
“I don’t know, we all have to improve as strikers. We talk about it, we are aware, and we don’t hide, we need to self-criticise.
“Maybe it’s also a question of play, if you have the game in hand, you create more chances. Last year we were strong, we always got the target on every occasion, now it’s different. We need to find confidence again.”