News Focus
- Lazio lose Coppa Italia final to Inter Milan
- Club will miss European football for second straight season
- First time since 1992/93 without consecutive continental campaigns
- Manager Maurizio Sarri faces uncertain future at Stadio Olimpico
- Relationship between players and supporters remains strained
SS Lazio will not compete in European competitions next season. This marks two years in a row without continental football for the Rome-based club. The Italian side last faced this situation during the 1992/93 campaign.
Financial experts at Calcio e Finanza report that the club previously endured a 15-year absence from European action between 1979 and 1993. This current dry spell is the first under president Claudio Lotito, who bought the club in 2004.
The disappointment feels especially sharp given recent success. Lazio participated in European competitions for eight consecutive seasons before this drought. They reached the Champions League round of 16 twice during that period. Bayern Munich eliminated them on both occasions.
The Rome-based outfit boasts impressive continental history. They have competed in the Champions League eight times since 1991. The club won the Cup Winners’ Cup and UEFA Super Cup in 1999. Their best Champions League performance came in 2000 when they reached the quarter-finals. This season, they advanced to the Europa League quarter-finals.
The summer transfer window promises major changes at the Stadio Olimpico. Manager Maurizio Sarri could leave his position. Several key players may also depart. Tensions between the squad and supporter groups create additional pressure during this crucial off-season.