Lecce manager Marco Giampaolo expressed pride in his team’s performance following their narrow 2-1 defeat against Lazio. Despite playing with 10 men for the entire second half, Lecce put up a valiant fight and nearly secured a point in the closing moments of the match.

The turning point came when Frederic Guilbert was shown a red card for handling the ball on the goal line, resulting in a penalty for Lazio. However, Lecce refused to give up, equalizing through Tete Morente before Adam Marusic’s late winner for Lazio.

Giampaolo praised his team’s resilience, stating, “I’m incredibly proud of our players. They never stopped fighting, even when the odds were against us. It’s heartbreaking not to come away with a result after such a spirited performance.”

The manager highlighted the team’s tactical adaptability, noting how they adjusted their approach after going down to 10 men. “We had to balance between pressing and sitting deep, which isn’t easy against a strong side like Lazio. I believe we interpreted the game well under challenging circumstances.”

Lecce’s tenacity was evident until the final whistle, with Mohamed Kaba’s header striking the crossbar in stoppage time. The home fans acknowledged the team’s efforts with applause, despite the disappointing result.

Giampaolo concluded, “This kind of performance deserved a reward. It’s tough to swallow a defeat like this, but I’ve told the players to be proud of their efforts. We’ll use this experience to motivate us for our upcoming matches.”