Lazio coach Maurizio Sarri is positive about the project in Rome despite the slow start.
Speaking to gathered reporters in a press conference (via La Lazio Siamo Noi) yesterday, the 62-year-old Italian coach first commented on president Claudio Lotito’s recent words to the squad and if that has been picked up by the players.
This team has a good level of application. They don’t have to take any kind of message. This is our league, the Europa League is crushing us. Through our own fault. We had 11 games with 21 points, an average of 1.91.
Then after the Europa League we had a 0.6 point average, which means we have 7-8 points less than normal. We can’t manage the games after the Europa League. After the midweek league games we have always played good games.
This is our current limitation, the difference between a strong team and a normal one, the strong team snatches the 0-0 or even wins 1-0 whilst not deserving it, we instead arrive exhausted and do not play the game.
We are limited in this respect. The team always trains well, that’s the limit, and it’s no small thing.
The Lazio coach touched on his current objective in Rome.
To build a team that is as young as possible, one that in theory is destined to grow over time, slowly following a path.
No one knows what this could lead to, but in our size it is the most viable way.
Sarri spoke about what he expects from the final two matches of 2021 against Genoa and Venezia.
That we play, we have lost games that we haven’t played. That we are ready, we have to remove the flaws that affect the standings, it can improve if we grow.
I expect two games played with determination to the end.
The 62-year-old Italian coach touched on the current mood in the squad.
Our problem is unconscious. None of us want to arrive at the match uncharged, so it’s more difficult to solve.
No one arrives fully charged after Europe, it’s usually a blowout for all of them, but the difference is to pull out even a point in difficult situations.
He discussed the physical conditions of Luis Alberto, Pedro and Mattia Zaccagni.
I hope they are there, all three were fine yesterday and trained with the team. Zaccagni only had a knock, Luis seems to be resolving it, Pedro himself had no injury but was just fatigued.
Hopefully three situations that can be resolved.
Sarri commented on the low attendance in the Stadio Olimpico at the minute.
A consequence, if the team does well the public will come back in large numbers, otherwise they will come in smaller numbers.
It’s a direct consequence of what we do on the pitch.
He was not concerned that Champions League qualification could be too high of a goal for the squad to aim for.
I don’t even know where we are in the table. Champions League objective? Let’s not exaggerate, this team made the Champions League one year and at a time in history of 6-7 years when there was no Inter or Milan.
I’d say let’s not exaggerate when talking about these team’s goals, they’ve only achieved it once. Now if you look at what has happened in the last two years the situation is much more complicated.
In the minds of the players there must be only the objective of removing the flaws shown so far, the rest are just consequences.
He gave his thoughts on the Biancocelesti’s next opponents in the Europa League, Porto.
About Porto I don’t even know what to say, I don’t watch them now.
We had a strong team, it’s difficult to think that we could find a weak team given the current rules of the Europa League.
Sarri touched on the biggest difficulties so far in his team.
The defenders have a greater difficulty than the others, right now there is one thing that stands out.
That is three players who are doing better than the others, which are Zaccagni, Basic and Pedro. All three are new, coming from outside, the change is more absorbable.
He commented on what he’d like to see in the game.
The game is an expression of activation and determination, you have to start from that base to find your stuff on the pitch.
I’ve never seen a team work.
Finally, Sarri discussed how long it’s been since he was central to a project.
At Napoli it was like this situation, although it was much faster, the focus was the coach as it is happening here.
That’s why I said I’m fine here and I’d like to stay.
