While the first weeks foreshadowed good things when he took office, the Croatian coach, Igor Tudor, is going through his first major crisis with Lazio. Indeed, the former OM technician is unable at all to fulfill the objectives set by his management for the end of the season, taking over from Maurizio Sarri’s work. The clash with Mattéo Guendouzi thickened over the weeks, the elimination in the Coppa against Juventus and the defeat in the Rome Derby left traces in the locker room and in the group, to the point that certain lines of the new project desired by Claudio Lotito, president of Lazio, could undergo twists and turns.
The draw against Monza (2-2) this weekend seems to have been the last straw. At the final whistle, some players even confronted the Laziali ultras to discuss the team’s poor form in recent weeks. An unexpected interview which is also the subject of an investigation opened by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) which did not appreciate the very tense conversation, leading to insults and even threats: “The confrontation with the supporters? I don’t know what happened, I can’t comment. When I know what happened I will comment. I can only comment on the facts”, said Igor Tudor at a press conference after the match. Lazio supporters did not appreciate that Guendouzi and some other players did not appear in front of the stand for this brief confrontation.
A premature departure considered?
The tension remains high, because the season ends in the worst possible way and the club, without showing it, thought it could secure a place for the next Champions League. Currently 7th, Lazio is starting to fall way behind and hopes are becoming more and more minimal. Igor Tudor will have to at least lock in a ticket for the Europa League or risk already walking out the door. According to Corriere dello Sport, there are enormous regrets since the same difficulties persist. The change of staff did not calm the locker room and did not resolve the lack of offensive realism, even aggravating the defensive weaknesses. Confusion has increased, major uncertainties linked to the future are emerging: “It’s not one of our best matches, but we take this point against a quality team. We could have done more, both defensively and offensively. Let’s turn the page and think about the next one.”, explained the former OM coach without solution. And the management of the locker room also raises questions.
Since his arrival, apart from his clash with Guendouzi, the Croatian coach has had relational difficulties with Matteo Zaccagni. Against Monza, the Italian striker came off in the 32nd minute after a quick yellow card. Furious, the player dodged his coach and hit the bottles near the Roman bench. Other players in the squad are also going through a phase of doubt like Nicolò Rovella and Gustav Isaksen who have lost minutes, while some are struggling to perform in the Croatian’s very strict but very different 3-4-2-1 system. that of Maurizio Sarri, like Alessio Romagnoli aligned in a three-way defense. From now on the sports management led by Angelo Mariano Fabiani will have to meet with the sulphurous president Claudio Lotito to find out if it will still be necessary to spend money to revolutionize the workforce again, even calling into question the last summer signings (Castellanos, Guendouzi , Kamada…) or if he will save money by investing in another trainer in June more suited to the current construction..
