Lazio director Angelo Maria Fabbiani has confessed that the club itself was taken aback by their progression to the Coppa Italia Final against Inter. “To be honest, we didn’t even anticipate reaching this stage,” Fabbiani stated.
The final is scheduled to take place at the Stadio Olimpico at 8:00 PM UK time (9:00 PM CEST). The winner of this 79th edition of the Coppa Italia will be determined within 90 minutes, or through extra time and potentially a penalty shootout.
For Inter, this match presents an opportunity to complete a domestic double, having already secured the Scudetto. However, for Lazio, winning the trophy holds even greater significance, as it could salvage their season and, crucially, secure a spot in the Europa League.
Lazio Viewed as Underdogs Against Inter
“Being here is significant. It affords us the chance to compete for a trophy,” Fabbiani told Sport Mediaset. “Our path to this final has been remarkable; frankly, we likely didn’t expect it. Following the squad’s renewal and rejuvenation, we hadn’t anticipated that Edoardo Motta would lead us to the final with what has been one of the greatest goalkeeping performances of all time.”
“We can dare to dream of a significant upset. If it doesn’t materialize, we can still say that we believed,” he added.
Edoardo Motta was instrumental in the semi-final victory over Atalanta, saving four consecutive penalties in the shootout. He had only recently made his Serie A debut a couple of months prior, stepping in due to Ivan Provedel’s injury.
The two teams recently met at the Stadio Olimpico in Serie A, with Inter emerging victorious with a 3-0 scoreline and Lazio’s Alessio Romagnoli receiving a red card. However, in contrast to their recent home matches, the Lazio ultras are expected to be in attendance, having ended their protest boycott.
“In football, the difference isn’t solely created by financial power. Investment doesn’t guarantee victory; you need strategic planning, a long-term vision, and courage. We are demonstrating all of that,” Fabbiani continued.
“Everyone is entitled to their opinions, but I believe we should focus on identifying and nurturing young Italian talent. Just look at Motta; we brought him in from Reggiana, and he has made a substantial impact.”
The Coppa Italia Final represents Maurizio Sarri’s only previous final in the competition, which resulted in a defeat for his Juventus side against Napoli in 2020. The Lazio coach is suspended for this match following the contentious semi-final against Atalanta, meaning his assistant Marco Ianni will be on the touchline. However, Fabbiani dismissed suggestions that Sarri’s future at the club is uncertain.
“I understand that fans desire immediate results, but that is not always feasible. We had [Marius] Mandas and sent him to the Premier League, so we anticipated that Motta would eventually get his opportunity.”
This marks Lazio’s 11th appearance in the Coppa Italia Final. They have triumphed seven times previously, with their last victory in 2019, and have been runners-up on three occasions.