Lazio Captain Zaccagni Reflects on Draw with Milan

Lazio captain Mattia Zaccagni expressed his belief that the absence of fans at the Stadio Olimpico affected the team's performance in a recent 2-2 draw against AC Milan. The match, which took place on September 12, 2026, saw Zaccagni's team initially take a two-goal lead thanks to goals from Matteo Cancellieri and Tijjani Noslin, but they were unable to maintain it as Diego Moreira came off the bench to score twice for the Rossoneri, rescuing a point for Milan.

Speaking to DAZN after the match, Zaccagni acknowledged the contributions of head coach Gennaro Gattuso, noting that the players are buying into his methods. "We know the coach from the inside, and you all know him from the outside. He is a person who makes you feel good, and we try to take onto the pitch what he asks of us," he commented.

The captain pointed out that the atmosphere at the stadium, which was notably lacking in fans due to ongoing protests against club president Claudio Lotito, could have made a critical difference in the match. "We said it to each other in the dressing room, if we had that extra push then maybe we would not have conceded the goal in that difficult moment," he remarked.

While the first half displayed Lazio’s attacking prowess and control, Zaccagni admitted that the team struggled after halftime, describing the second half as a different game entirely. He emphasized, "In the first half, we played football of the highest level, we had a lot of chances to kill it off. In the second half, we dropped too deep; we were on our last legs. But we are happy, even if it is logical that it hurts."

This draw leaves Lazio reflecting on missed opportunities as they continue through the Serie A season.