Lazio coach Maurizio Sarri was overjoyed to beat rivals Roma 3-2 in the Derby della Capitale yesterday.
Speaking first to Italian broadcaster DAZN (via La Lazio Siamo Noi) after the game, the 62-year-old Italian coach first commented on his photo with the eagle Olimpia after the game.
I found her there by accident. Olimpia sleeps behind my room in Formello and I sometimes hear her.
He spoke about the strengths of Brazilian winger Felipe Anderson.
He has to be consistent. These are performances that fall within his characteristics. I think that sometimes he doesn’t realize his strength. I love some occasions he plays too timidly.
If he finds conviction and determination, he’s a great player. He has coordination, lightness in running and technique. It’s difficult to accept his mid-level games.
The former Napoli and Juventus coach discussed the decision to move midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic further up the pitch.
I talked to the guys about it in these days. They seemed too stuck in thinking. I told them to be more free. When we have the ball we have to be free.
A good defensive performance but we conceded two goals from set pieces.
Sarri spoke about the team’s difficulties dealing with Roma’s set pieces.
Yesterday we tried corner kicks, they have great jumpers. It wasn’t easy. Veretout put in two or three great corners.
We struggled despite also having great jumpers like Ciro and Sergej in that area.
The Lazio coach did not think that this victory represented freedom.
Let’s not exaggerate, it has to be put into context.
He discussed the amount of work needed to adapt to his system of Sarrismo.
Every team has to shape its way of being on the field and playing. This isn’t Playstation, this is real football.
On many occasions we came out from behind as I like the team has a lot of potential to express.
He spoke about how much he has changed since his days at Napoli.
I’m very good here, we can work and we’ve signed players who can play on the wings.
Changing 3 or 4 players in Juve are expenses that were unaffordable and so I adapted.
Sarri expressed his happiness at having won the derby against Roma and if it was one of his favourite matches.
In the Premier League matches like today’s come up very often. On an emotional level I put it in the top places.
I didn’t think the derby would give you this adrenaline and this satisfaction in winning it.
Sarri then spoke about the game in an interview with Italian radio broadcaster Lazio Style Channel.
The fatigue is playing the derby, it started the day before, there is tension and you try to calm the team down.
Then the adrenaline during the match is so high and the joy too, I didn’t expect it, it’s a special feeling.
The 62-year-old Italian coach gave his thoughts on the match.
We went into the game in the right way, it was a bit of a stalemate at the start and then going ahead it exploded.
The only thing I’m sorry about is that we did well defensively and we still conceded two goals from corners and penalties.
It became a proactive derby after our goal, what we did then was to win and the game was spectacular.
We could have won by a larger margin, we can discuss the penalty one day. We managed the last few minutes very well, without going too deep.
The only moment I didn’t like was from 30 minutes to 45 minutes of the first half because we waited for them low, for the rest the management was good.
He spoke about the strengths and weaknesses of Felipe Anderson.
He has to convince himself that performances like today should be the norm, he is elegant and light on his feet like I’ve never seen, he has great technique, he has great choices in the last pass, with the acceleration he has he must be at these levels always.
He is so humble that he does not realize the strength he has, I hope that the maturity he has will lead him to be consistent.
Sarri then discussed if the derby win could be the turning point in Lazio’s season whilst speaking to gathered reporters in a press conference (via La Lazio Siamo Noi).
In the meantime, let’s take the satisfaction of having won the derby. It was a beautiful, spectacular match.
Let’s hope we’re on the right track. Let’s see if we can pass this test of maturity.
He touched on how much the team has grown so far this campaign.
We went from 68% to 88% in successful passes. The manoeuvre comes to develop seems to be of a markedly different quality. We had already been growing tactically for a few games.
We used to perform badly because we have been lacking in technical quality in the last few games. Our technical quality should be what it is today.
Finally, Sarri spoke about the emotional weight of the Derby della Capitale.
It’s tiring, it’s a game that drains you because there is great tension before, adrenaline during. You arrive at the end tired, luckily we won.
These are matches that give incredible satisfaction.
