Lazio Coach Stefano Pioli insists the Aquile are ‘not taking anything for granted’ after a fantastic Serie A season.
Pioli’s men finished third in the League, securing qualification for next season’s Champions League, having been ninth just 12 months previously.
“We have a philosophy which must be respected,” the tactician told Lazio Style Radio.
“We always try to overrun our opponents, which means taking the game to them, and I think that’s the right way to bring home the points.
Lazio Coach Stefano Pioli insists the Aquile are ‘not taking anything for granted’ after a fantastic Serie A season.
Pioli’s men finished third in the League, securing qualification for next season’s Champions League, having been ninth just 12 months previously.
“We have a philosophy which must be respected,” the tactician told Lazio Style Radio.
“We always try to overrun our opponents, which means taking the game to them, and I think that’s the right way to bring home the points.
“We’ve learned something from this season. We need to all share the same idea of what the Lazio way is, and we have to try to win every game.
“Sure, we could have had a few more draws, but the attitude was always right. We want to improve, for next season we have to reflect on too many defeats in front of our fans.
“No-one should forget though, that you constantly have to prove yourself in football. What we’ve done will remain, but we have to work to improve.
“Our work, ambition and humility were exactly right to get results, so we have to continue that next season.
“The important thing is not to take anything for granted, we’re pleased with our season, but we have to consolidate it and do even better.”
Pioli also discussed the explosion of Felipe Anderson in the second half of the season, and puts it down to getting comfortable in Serie A.
“Felipe has always had great quality, he just needed to understand Italian football, and he needed confidence.
“He’s just had a season where he gave us a lot, but we’re convinced his development has just started and he has ample room for improvement.
“Next season will be exciting, and even more difficult. It’s important to keep improving.”
A Champions League spot was only secured on the final day of the season, partly due to Napoli’s Gonzalo Higuain missing a crucial penalty, but Pioli insists his side always deserved it.
“I thought we always deserved the [Champions League] place,” Pioli insisted.
“A team which has fought and played like Lazio deserves to be there. I always believed, along with the team. I think we’re one of the few teams who achieved the goals they had at the start of the season.
“We’ve done so much to get into Europe, so we won’t ever complain about having to play three days.
“We know that we’ll be facing tough opponents.”