Sarri Highlights Lazio’s Fatigue Following 3-0 Loss to Bologna, “Everyone Is Tired”

Lazio coach Maurizio Sarri suggested that the team were drained coming into the 3-0 loss to Bologna earlier today.

Speaking to Italian broadcaster Sky Sports Italia (via LazioNews24) after the game, the 62-year-old Italian coach discussed the fatigue currently affecting the squad following their 2-0 win over Lokomotiv Moscow on Thursday.

We arrived drained, not only physically but also mentally. The second balls were all theirs. We have to understand why we arrived like that, but it has to be forgotten quickly. 

When you play so much everyone is tired. In short, it’s the environment that gets mentally drained. This is a question of mentality. 

At the moment this is something that we are lacking and that needs to be built.

Lazio’s Confidence Shaken in Lethargic 3-0 Loss to Bologna

The Lazio coach spoke about the forgettable performances of Luis Alberto and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.

The performance of Luis Alberto and Milinkovic-Savic depends largely on them. 

They have to become total midfielders and at the moment they are especially lacking in the defensive phase, because they are very used to being on the ball.

He touched on the state of the squad at the minute and the difficulties facing him.

There are some critical points, but they need to be discussed in the locker room. But it’s difficult to have problems as early as October. 

It’s difficult to play after such a short time, but we had to be different. We have to lose a game because we run out of gas in the final stages, but this time we were drained right from the start.

Video: Bologna Take a 3-0 Lead Against Lazio

The former Napoli and Juventus coach commented on the lethargic play in the midfield in the loss to Bologna.

I saw little movement without the ball. The team closed the spaces on its own. 

Napoli certainly had players who were better at dribbling, but this midfield is also very tough.

Sarri discussed the red card given to defender Francesco Acerbi late in the second half.

This was a game that needed to be sent off. Unfortunately it was a nervous episode.

But as I said, the red card was foreseeable in the match script.

The Lazio coach also discussed the 3-0 loss to Bologna in an interview with Italian radio broadcaster Lazio Style Radio after the match.

The match lacked energy, we were off from a physical and mental point of view. I saw a reactive and active team against one that had no mental strength to react. 

We have to understand why, but if the assumption is this then we have to let it go.

Sarri touched on the squad’s need to change their mentality in order to improve their consistency.

In the locker room, someone who has been here for many years said ‘We’ve always been like this, when we get consecutive results we have a huge emotional drop. To change this mentality will take a long time’. 

I don’t know what it comes from, people on the inside or having influence. Certainly not from the fans because today I saw wonderful support that, after 3-0, continued to encourage the team.

He commented on the decision to schedule this match for Sunday 12:30 pm local time following the team’s match against Lokomotiv Moscow on Thursday.

We played on Thursday night and at this time. 

However, we can’t take it as a complete excuse because we can play badly, but it’s our approach because at the start we were the nervous ones not the physical ones.

Finally, Sarri briefly revealed his thoughts about Italian referees.

I only see these ‘hero’ jokers in Italy.

Lazio need to re-group ahead of their next Serie A match against Simone Inzaghi’s Inter on 16th October, after the upcoming international break.

The loss to Bologna earlier today was a wake-up call for the squad, who were on a high following the wins against Roma and Lokomotiv Moscow.

Tags Biancocelesti Bologna vs Lazio Italy Lazio Lazio vs Bologna Maurizio Sarri Rome rossoblu Sarri Serie A Stadio Renato Dall'Ara