Maurizio Sarri was unhappy with Feyenoord’s extra rest and expects an important response from his Lazio squad.
The Biancocelesti suffered a disappointing 3-1 loss to Salernitana in their Serie A outing on the weekend, leaving them scratching their heads ahead of a vital Europa League clash. Feyenoord, on the other hand, did not play in the Eredivisie on the weekend, allowing them to have a few extra rest days.
Speaking in a press conference (via La Lazio Siamo Noi), Sarri first discussed Marcos Antonio and the team’s loss to Salernitana.
Marcos Antonio has had the difficulties that all young players who come to Italy from a very different league to ours have. I don’t think you can go through a change like that without facing difficulties.
For the rest, I don’t think about the game just gone or the one to come. I think about this game, whoever is well goes in and must play this game to the full, at 101% of their potential.
Matches if you don’t attack them, you suffer them. We already f*cked up in the last game, let’s leave it at that.
He spoke about his and the squad’s approach to the Europa League.
I don’t know if we are going against the trend or not, we care about Europe. A group that will end up like Tottenham’s, you’ve seen the whole repertoire for the whole 90 minutes. It will be up and down like that.
We don’t make calculations, Conference League or otherwise. We will go on the pitch to pass the group as winners. At the end of the game, we will make all the evaluations.
The 63-year-old Italian coach commented on the intensity of a week like this, ahead of the upcoming Derby della Capitale.
Sunday’s game may be important for other reasons, for the league it has no significance at the level of the final standings.
My role in a week like that? The first two days I played the role of the p*ssed off player, there was a strong feeling, you can’t lose a game because of nervousness or lack of focus. The reaction was individual, not team.
These are the effects, you lose balance, order, and you get these results. Clearly I was not pleased. The first few days were all about being p*ssed off. Then I started to project myself to this match.
Sarri gave his thoughts on midfielder Luis Alberto.
He doesn’t have a moment of great physical condition. Despite this, he put Zaccagni through on goal. He’s a player of great technical quality, but at the moment his condition is not great.
He spoke about the mentality of Sergej Milinkovic-Savic following the confirmation of his yellow-card suspension.
I saw him with an emotional condition like mine, p*ssed off. It’s normal for him to be like that. With a booking like that, it’s normal for him to take it. There’s nothing to be done. In 50 years of football he is the first footballer to be booked while in possession of the ball.
He highlighted his displeasure at Feyenoord’s extra rest days.
A disgrace of UEFA to allow an FA to do such a thing. We feel we are being taken for a ride. Like us also Sturm Graz and Midtjylland.
Finally, Sarri discussed the role Luka Romero could play against Feyenoord.
I don’t know, it depends on how the guys who have played more are. We will draw the conclusions.
