Lazio midfielder Matteo Guendouzi admits football and life in Italy has surprised him.
The France international joined Lazio last year from Olympique Marseille.
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He told The Team: “We know little about Lazio in France from a sporting perspective. But I arrived at a historic club that plays in Europe every year, with very passionate fans both at home and away. I remember that when I arrived at the airport there were between 500 and 1000 people waiting for me.
“What did I think last year when (Igor) Tudor arrived? (laughs) I don’t really like his football, but I had to adapt. When I was at Marseille – Guendouzi confessed – I knew how to do what he asked of me and I think I did it well. Here I remained a professional and continued to play.”
On Serie A, Guendouzi continued: “As they say, all roads lead to Rome. It’s true that there are many Mattéos here, even within the club. I didn’t expect to sign in Italy when I was young, but I have to say that I’m having a lot of fun here. Both from a sporting and personal point of view. Serie A is totally different, I was very surprised.
“The level is very high, just look at the first 8 to understand the quality of this championship. All the matches are complicated. It’s true that there is a lot of emphasis on tactics, you have to find the spaces, the teams work a lot on video. This is where I evolved the most, we at Lazio do video sessions three times a week, for example. For me, it’s the second best championship in the world after England.”
And on life in Italy, he concluded: “I am in a beautiful city and a beautiful country. The people are very warm, I was welcomed very well. What did I discover in Italy? The food (laugh). It is not a myth, it is also a bit similar to the south of France. Beyond the climate, the warmth of the people is somehow similar. Rome is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, but I was also able to visit Venice, Milan, Lake Como. There are wonderful places here.”
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