Angelo Maria Fabbiani, a director at Lazio, has confessed that the club itself was surprised to reach the Coppa Italia Final, where they are set to face Inter. “To be honest, we didn’t even expect it,” Fabbiani stated.
The final is scheduled to take place at the Stadio Olimpico at 20:00 UK time (21:00 CEST). This match will determine the winner of the 79th edition of the Coppa Italia, with the possibility of extra time and penalties if the score is level after 90 minutes.
While Inter has the opportunity to complete a domestic double after securing the Scudetto, this final holds significant importance for Lazio. Winning the trophy could salvage their season and, crucially, secure a qualification spot for the Europa League.
Fabbiani emphasized the significance of reaching this stage. “Being here is important. It gives us the chance to play for a trophy,” he told Sport Mediaset. “The journey to this Final was remarkable; we probably didn’t even expect it, to be honest. Following the renewal and rejuvenation of the squad, we didn’t expect Motta would lead us to the Final with one of the best goalkeeping performances of all time.”
He added, “We can dream of a huge surprise, and if it doesn’t happen, we can still say we believed.”
The team’s impressive run to the final includes a semi-final victory over Atalanta, where Edoardo Motta, who had only recently made his Serie A debut following Ivan Provedel’s injury, made a heroic performance, saving four consecutive penalties in the shoot-out.
Lazio and Inter recently met at the Stadio Olimpico in a Serie A fixture, with Inter emerging victorious with a 3-0 win and Alessio Romagnoli being sent off. However, a notable difference for this final is the presence of Lazio’s ultras, who have ended their protest boycott.
“In football, the difference isn’t just made by money. Investment doesn’t guarantee victory; you need planning, long-term vision, and courage. We are demonstrating all of that,” Fabbiani continued.
He highlighted the club’s strategy of investing in young Italian talent, citing Motta’s successful transition from Reggiana to Lazio as a prime example. “Everyone can have their opinions, but I believe we should be seeking out young Italians. Just look at Motta; we picked him up from Reggiana, and he’s made a huge impact.”
This marks Maurizio Sarri’s second Coppa Italia Final as a coach; his first resulted in a defeat with Juventus against Napoli in 2020. Sarri is suspended for this match following the heated semi-final against Atalanta, with his assistant Marco Ianni set to manage from the touchline. Despite speculation about his future, Fabbiani dismissed concerns, stating, “I realize the fans want everything straight away, but sometimes that is not possible. We had Mandas and sent him to the Premier League, so we thought that sooner or later Motta would have his opportunity.”
Lazio is participating in their 11th Coppa Italia Final, having won the competition seven times previously, with their last victory in 2019. They have lost three finals.