Serie A Manager Explains Why Super Eagles Star Was Substituted at Half Time During Rome Derby

SS Lazio manager Marco Baroni has shared his thoughts on why Super Eagles midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru was substituted during the halftime of their loss to AS Roma....CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE➤

Roma won the derby della capitale 2-0, destroying their bitter rivals within the first 20 minutes and leaving them to chase the rest of the match for 70 minutes.

Captain Lorenzo Pellegrini sent the Stadio Olimpico roaring with loud cheers after opening the scoring in the 11th before Alexis Saelemaekers doubled the lead seven minutes later.

The two teams battled for the rest of the match, with the visitors managing to contain their hosts and not allowing them to inflict more damage as their early start predicted.

Super Eagles midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru was handed a start for the derby, but he only lasted 45 minutes and was replaced by Boulaye Dia immediately after the break.

Manager Baroni has opened up on the decision to send the Nigerian midfielder back to the bench after the first half, a type of substitution most players do not like.

“The club and director are looking around, but we are also at the same time trying to improve the players we have,” he told DAZN, as quoted by Complete Sports.

“Dele-Bashiru is still learning the position and how to control the ball between the lines. We are also missing Matias Vecino for a long time, but that must not be an alibi.

“As I said, our tactical identity is the most important thing and I saw that in the second half.”

Dele-Bashiru joined the Italian capital club on loan with an obligation to buy from Turkish Super League club Hatayspor in the summer.

The Germany-born midfielder has yet to settle in Italy since arriving from Turkey in the summer, featuring in 15 games across all competitions for Lazio.

As noted by Transfermarkt, he has started 11 of his 15 games and has been an unused substitute 11 times despite not being injured and completing the 90 minutes five times.

He scored four goals this season, two each across the Italian Serie A and the UEFA Europa League, and he also provided two assists in European competitions.

The reigning African Footballer of the Year started the match on the bench, and his introduction in the second half could not save the day for the Europa League winners.

The defeat means Gasperini’s side will not have another shot at silverware, with the final set to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between Inter and AC Milan tonight. ...CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE➤