Fonseca: We gave them two goals and couldn't recover

Here's what coach Paulo Fonseca had to say following Friday's derby defeat against Lazio.

The Giallorossi fell to a 3-0 loss, with two first-half goals proving crucial in defining the arc of the contest.

Fonseca admitted those goals had a huge influence on his side's display.

At the end individual mistakes were one of the crucial factors in tonight’s defeat – is that fair to say?

“We started the game well in the first few minutes, but we know that against a side like Lazio it is difficult to get back into the game if you make a mistake.

"After the first two goals, we allowed Lazio to feel safer. And then we didn’t ever find a way to attack them and get behind their defensive line. Lazio are a side that can frustrate you well, and at 2-0 down it was difficult to find a way back into the game.”

Could you have done something about the Lazzari-Ibanez battle?

“We are discussing that because two of the goals involved Ibanez – but they weren’t two dangerous situations, we had them in our control.”

It seemed like Ibanez struggled against Lazzari throughout the game.

“It’s true that Lazzari had a good game and we didn’t find a way to stop him in those moments. But I think we can look at the game like this: in the first half we conceded two goals that we never should have conceded.”

Even on the left, Leonardo Spinazzola didn’t track back in defence.

“As I said, I don’t think the first goal arose from a situation where Ibanez needed help. And that is also true of the second.”

Didn’t the team lack courage tonight?

“Honestly, I don’t think so. I think we ended up deciding the game in the first half and after that we tried, but Lazio defended well. We didn’t have space in behind, so we moved the ball around without finding a way through – but that is also down to Lazio, who closed the space really well. The team always tried to attack, without ever finding space or openings, but that is also down to Lazio.”

Lazio seemed to confuse you, especially in midfield.

“We know that Lazio, when they have space, are really good on the counter-attack. If we are playing around their final third, then we need to be ready for the moment when we lose the ball so as not to give them time or space to counter. Because they are dangerous then. But I think we made mistakes in that respect as well.”