Maurizio Sarri highlighted why it would be difficult for Lazio to aim for the Champions League spots and touched on the team’s issues in the final third.
The Biancocelesti have continued to look inconsistent in the new year, with impressive wins over Milan 4-0 and Sassuolo 2-0 undercut by a loss to Lecce 2-1 and draws with Fiorentina and Hellas Verona.
Lazio’s clash with Atalanta is worth more than just three points as both teams look to fight for a top four finish, adding extra weight to an already tense affair.
Speaking in a press conference (via La Lazio Siamo Noi), Sarri first discussed what he wants from his Lazio side in their clash with Atalanta.
It’ll be a tough game, played by a team that has to realise the importance of the moment and the match. The application now we give with consistency, then in certain games we’re absent for a few minutes.
The team are thinking well, training well and feeling good on the pitch, they have to shake off these game segments. They are getting shorter and shorter, but we have to get them off our backs.
He was asked if Lazio still have a lot of room for improvement.
This is a team that from the point of view of evolution leaves you satisfied. I see a different attitude, dedication, professionalism and application compared to last year.
Then there is a bit of frustration because they always seem close to the ultimate leap forward and then never do.
The margins are there, we have to go and look for them starting against Atalanta. Guardiola also said it, playing against Atalanta is like going to the dentist, they are tough to play against.
The 64-year-old Italian coach commented on the strength of the Biancocelesti’s bench.
Basic hasn’t played little, the minutes say he has played. Marcos Antonio must be placed in a midfield that allows him to bring out his qualities, he is a great dribbler, but he has characteristics that must be supported strongly by the rest of the midfield.
The youngsters are gaining experience, they are not ready for the decisive matches, but they are evolving. We’ll see when they are ready for the big matches.
Sarri spoke about if a top four finish was a realistic goal for Lazio this season.
Well, the goals have to be credible, we are not in the top four in terms of payroll, in terms of turnover, so there is no responsibility for that. Credible goals are one thing, dreams are another, they can be less credible but still be feasible.
The team has desire and hunger, I see a great daily application, then we don’t always show it because we have some limitations.
The team is very applied, I see it every day in training. The team believe they can do well, then what that goodness will be we’ll see at the end.
He touched on the Biancocelesti’s issues in the final third.
We have a problem, we don’t finish very well because of the way we play. Between shots taken and goals scored, Lazio are first in percentage terms. It means that we only go to the conclusion when we see the possibility of a dangerous conclusion.
We don’t shoot so much from 25-30 metres. If Verona always play the long ball, they always comes far from the opponent’s goal. It therefore becomes complicated to get into the box frequently.
He commented on the condition of talismanic striker Ciro Immobile.
We’ve never had the best Immobile available, because he’s always had 15 days of training and 20 days off. So, it’s difficult to have a good condition, without finding consistency. It depends on the training and the games he will be able to play.
The 64-year-old Italian coach discussed the gap between Lazio and Atalanta.
There is a gap because Atalanta for three years in a row reached the Champions League and cashed in between €120 and €150 million more. In the past they used to buy €6-7 million players, then they started to buy €20-25 million players.
He gave his thoughts on Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.
I’m seeing him well, very applied. In my opinion he had a good game also in Verona, for the first time he made more progressive passes than lost balls, a very important fact.
You like Milinkovic-Savic more heel and toe, I like the latter version more. I see him also very focused on the team, a good attitude.
He commented on the team’s lack of goals from set pieces.
We scored three or four of them on consequences. I’m certainly not happy with set pieces, I’m used to teams scoring a lot from set pieces.
We can do better than that, we have centimetres, not so much attacking the ball, but there are players who also get it off to a good start.
Finally, Sarri reacted to Luis Alberto’s comments about the usage of videos in training.
Luis Alberto is a prick, he enjoys going against the grain. 50% of the videos we watch are requested by the players.
