Lazio attacker Pedro sat down with Serie A ahead of Matchday 13 to speak about the Derby della Capitale between Lazio and Roma, what he offers, and Manager Maurizio Sarri.
The Derby della Capitale
To cross the river that separates Roma and Lazio is almost unthinkable in a city divided by such a fiery rivalry. Last season, Spanish winger Pedro not only jumped at the chance to switch sides but also became only the third player ever to score for both clubs in the fixture that matters the most to all Romans.
“We all know what the derby is likeand the passion it generates among all the fans, and to be able to score that goal was special and important for me and the best way to connect with the fans, the community and this huge club as a whole. I’m very happy to come here and help my teammates. I have been lucky enough to play with both teams, but this team fits my character and playing style better because of all the values it represents, and I think this has also been noticed when it comes to my performance in the team, and that has been important.”
Pedro: A Player of Quality & Experience
A fan favorite, the 35-year-old from Tenerife has put his class and experience at the service of the Biancocelesti, delivering 14 goals and 7 assists since joining Lazio.
“I think I can help the team both as a substitute and as a starter. I played very well in pre-season, but then I had the ankle injury, and I was a little bit… I missed games and training sessions, and it was hard to get back to fitness, but now I’m in good shape again. I’ve gained more consistency in recent games, and hopefully, I can continue to help the team like this, and we can keep fighting at the top to try to achieve our objective.”
Lazio Manager Maurizio Sarri
Pedro’s known Maurizio Sarri since their time together at Chelsea and explains that the coach has shaped the team to suit his system.
“We have adopted Sarri’s idea very well, which we worked very hard on last year, and I think that all the players, who have joined us this year, have adapted very well to both the manager’s idea and his system. We are showing it on the pitch. I think that we are a dangerous team when we play well, press high, have the ball and create a lot of chances. That has been evident throughout the season. (Sarri) He’s a motivational coach who encourages you in the games. He is charismatic which is important to mould the mentality which every player is demonstrating now, and I think Lazio deserves him.”