Lazio coach Maurizio Sarri looked for the positives in the club’s 1-0 loss to Galatasaray last night.
Speaking first to Italian radio broadcaster Lazio Style Radio (via LazioNews24) after the game, the 62-year-old Italian coach first spoke about the positive signs he saw in the match.
Today I saw steps forward. We played a different game compared to Sunday. We played on a difficult pitch and we never really suffered.
Unfortunately mistakes are part of this sport. I repeat, however, that I have seen steps forward.
The Lazio coach touched on his reasoning for not rotating the squad as much as expected.
We care about this competition and this is also why I didn’t make too many changes. However, this is not the moment to change too much.
The good players did well. Basic’s entry was discreet and Zaccagni played a good game. I’m disappointed with the result because it complicates our path a little bit.
The 62-year-old Italian coach discussed the problems that he is still seeing.
I still see problems with timing and distances in the movement of the ball and in both phases.
There is a lot to work on.
Sarri then spoke to gathered reporters in a press conference (via La Lazio Siamo Noi) after the game.
We played a game that showed some steps forward. The game seemed under control against a strong team at home.
Unfortunately we made a mistake and we paid for it. I don’t let a mistake influence me.
He commented a little about goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha’s calamitous mistake.
There is little to say, I patted him on the back like the others.
When a mistake is made by a goalkeeper, it’s very noticeable.
The 62-year-old Italian coach suggested that Galatasaray were lucky to avoid a possible red card.
I didn’t see the incident again, from the bench it looked like he could pull up the red.
Sarri touched on the mistakes in front of goal made by Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Ciro Immobile.
The game was in control, we made some mistakes in front of goal. Immobile seems to me to have slipped, Sergej went a bit light on the ball.
The goal is to create more chances, we have room for improvement.
He touched on the isolation of the wingers in the match.
We need to improve in movements without the ball, Felipe must have more initiative than tonight.
Finally, Sarri discussed if Vedat Muriqi could possibly return to Fenerbahce in the near future.
The club’s decision was to keep him. There is no negotiation planned for him.
