Maurizio Sarri was overjoyed following Lazio’s vital Derby della Capitale win over Roma, a key result in their fight for a top four finish.
The Biancocelesti were handed an early advantage after Roger Ibanez was shown a second yellow card early in the first half, leaving the Giallorossi with 10 men for the majority of the match.
Lazio found a breakthrough just after the hour mark thanks to winger Mattia Zaccagni, who continued to prove himself a central figure in this squad.
Roma thought they’d responded just minutes later following a Nicolo Casale own goal, but it was chalked off for an offside in the build-up.
Speaking in a press conference (via TMW), Sarri first reacted to Lazio’s Derby della Capitale win over Roma.
If anyone thinks they can get used to the derby, they are wrong. The longer you stay in an environment, the more you feel it.
I’ve played in all the most important stadiums in the world and I’ve always slept the night before, yesterday I struggled.
It’s a unique feeling, I’m happy for the fans. Today the stadium was a spectacle. I’m happy for the points but more for them.
He commented on Jose Mourinho’s comments regarding Lazio’s elimination from the Europa Conference League.
Leave it to Mourinho, he’s like that. I almost always like him. There is nothing to answer to him. We won the derby, we’re overjoyed, and we don’t want to make controversy.
The sending off made it easier for us, but the data says that we had the game in hand even before.
I recommended at half-time not to be in a hurry, to let them run because sooner or later the hole to get in would be found.
The Biancocelesti coach commented on the fact that Lazio have now kept 16 clean sheets in 27 league outings.
I was convinced we could do better than last year but not like this. Romagnoli is a very important player for us, he seems to have been born to defend like this.
He’s become the guide for the others, they’ve all grown. I want to say a word for Hysaj, he’s among the most criticised, but in Italy in the last two and a half months he’s been one of the best.
Finally, Sarri discussed how he fired up the Lazio squad ahead of the derby with Roma.
I talked about the defeat against AZ the next day but not yesterday and not today. I only said that for us the derby was doubly important, it’s a direct confrontation and a cross-city match.
It was a good hammering. The players’ heads unconsciously felt the league goals more than the European ones.
It happened to me at Napoli, after the defeat against Shakhtar I was furious, in a meeting the next day one of the most experienced players told me that they were all there for the league.
