Maurizio Sarri was proud of his Lazio squad after their hard-fought 1-0 win away to league leaders Napoli.
The Biancocelesti were not expected to put up much resistance at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona due to the Partenopei’s clear dominance this season. Luciano Spalletti’s side already have one hand of their first Scudetto in three decades and are in the conversation for possible Champions League winners.
Matias Vecino proved the difference maker in Campania after scoring a wonderful long-shot in the 67th minute to put Lazio 1-0 up over Napoli, who were unable to claw back an equaliser.
Speaking in a press conference (via TMW), Sarri first reacted to Lazio’s 1-0 win over Napoli.
Going against this team is suicide. We needed great focus, but we scored after a long phase of our possession. We had to convince the boys that they could come here and get a result and that’s a lot.
If you read Napoli’s numbers at home, it becomes difficult to think we can get a result. We have to stay humble, think about the Conference League.
He touched on Lazio’s ability to turn up in games against top sides.
These are the games in which you can do better than others. Because you face a team that plays football, but also lets you play. We dropped points in a trivial way, but this team has made great strides in terms of consistency.
Do we lack mentality? I don’t agree, then if you want to say so you go ahead. We lost in Genoa by a goal at the end, but everyone loses points in certain situations. In this season it’s everyone’s story, except for one team.
The Lazio coach commented on what the victory in Naples means to him personally.
In this city I think I left a good memory, I have no revenge to take against Napoli. I’m happy because we got three important points, against the strongest team in the league.
Sarri was asked whose Napoli side was more beautiful, his or Spalletti’s.
There are many beauties. If you like blondes, it’s not that if a beautiful brunette passes by you’d say she’s ugly. The difference is that this Napoli team is going to win, and I envy them to death.
Spalletti was a phenomenon, together with the club and the sporting director, they had the courage to do things that had never been done before.
He discussed the work of Vecino in the win.
At this moment he has great energy, to perform at his best like tonight he would need to play a sequence of important matches. Right now it’s an energy that I don’t want to keep out.
The 64-year-old commented on if this defensive resilience could be a new symbol of his Sarrismo.
Today we played a defensive game for some stretches, they are needs within the game. But we also played our game, I don’t think that happened to Napoli very often this year.
Finally, Sarri was asked what this Lazio squad still needs to become winners.
We have started a journey, qualifying for Champions League allows you to give solidity to the financial aspect.
Hitting the Champions League for a couple of consecutive years allows you to make the leap in quality.
