Lazio coach Maurizio Sarri did not shy away from the team’s issues following the 2-1 loss to Sassuolo yesterday.
Speaking to Italian broadcaster DAZN (via LazioNews24) after the game, the 62-year-old Italian coach commented on the frustrating defeat.
Sometimes we look for bad luck, we conceded the second goal with a centre back in their penalty area.
The course of the match put us in difficulty due to the injuries of Pedro and Zaccagni. A defeat can happen against a very technical team.
The Lazio coach touched on Sassuolo’s formation and the qualities of the Neroverdi.
We were a little surprised about Sassuolo’s formation, it’s not that it changed our world though. We often faced the 42-3-1. We knew they were a very technical team.
They are better than their spot in the league table and we lost two players who were fundamental to the development of the match.
Sarri commented on the Biancocelesti’s issues in the offensive phase.
In the offensive phase we had to be much more clinical in the counterattacks, there were chances to hurt them. We lacked a bit of quality.
There’s not much to say about our effort and commitment, but we conceded the second goal because we were too involved.
The 62-year-old Italian coach spoke about the squad’s work in the first half despite the absences.
We had a good first half, but then the moments hurt us. Pedro and Zaccagni, who were doing better, went out.
The team, despite the absences, was in the game in the first half and moreover against a very technical team. We were not able to put them in difficulty with the substitutions.
He highlighted the lack of malice present within the game yesterday.
We need to be meaner. In the first half we had to be bad on the counterattacks.
We lack focus and we hurt ourselves. Now we’ll see how to get out of it.
The former Napoli coach touched on the injuries to Pedro and Mattia Zaccagni.
Zaccagni had a calf strain but it was due to a collision.
Pedro is hopefully not serious. He also had a pain in his calf.
He was not concerned about Lazio’s position in the Serie A table.
In this moment of the season the position doesn’t matter AND if it did it would be serious.
This is something that can happen on the final games.
Finally, Sarri spoke about the incredibly packed schedule that the squad are facing.
Now as the schedule for the return leg comes out we will see when we have a full week. Ours is becoming a different job now. We prepared this game more with video than anything else.
The European commitment takes something away from you. Then between injuries, disqualifications and absences, it’s even more complicated.
Lazio’s next game is against relegation candidates Genoa on Friday, a must win game for the Roman club as they look to bounce back after this defeat to Sassuolo.
