Lazio coach Maurizio Sarri was unimpressed after the 1-0 loss to Torino, although he was still proud of his squad’s efforts.
The Biancocelesti did not look their best in their Serie A clash with Ivan Juric’s Granata, struggling to find their footing in the match and being impacted by their opponents’ physicality.
Ivan Ilic put Torino ahead just before half time with a well-placed long shot, leaving Lazio on the back foot, and they were unable to respond in the second half, confirming their first Serie A defeat in over two months.
Speaking in a press conference (via TMW) after Lazio’s defeat to Torino, Sarri first shared his frustrations with referee Davide Ghersini and his decisions.
The refereeing influenced things. The penalty on Hysaj was clear, the Torino goal came from a throw-in taken metres inside the box. It had an influence. I wonder how seven people didn’t see these things.
The guys did well, you risk being down with these referees. Then there are assessments to be made about us, we chose this week to do heavy work and put fuel in for the end of the season. In fact, we were lacklustre.
And then we didn’t take into account that there was a change in tempo, maybe we paid for it a bit, something certainly affected us. We had the classic less-than-bright team tempo.
He was asked about the work of Marcos Antonio.
If he comes on at the moment when you have taken over the game, he is a level setter. That is out of question. In the first half, with the team suffering, he would have been in trouble.
The Italian coach commented on the lack of options on the bench.
It is difficult to have another Milinkovic-Savic and another Luis Alberto on the bench. Otherwise, you become Bayern Munich. It’s normal.
Our level is not the top in Europe, but we are bringing it to the top in Italy. Vecino struggled in a difficult game.
Sarri discussed Juventus’ legal situation and the temporary annulment of their 15-point penalty.
From a legal point of view, I don’t have the knowledge to be able to give an opinion. From a sporting point of view, the league is distorted.
For months there has been a table, now it’s different and it could change more. I hope some in sporting justice have the good taste to resign.
He was asked about the top four race this season.
There are eight games to go. In the last eight we have taken a lot of points from everyone. You can overturn a table in eight games, I told the guys during the week. It wasn’t easy before, it’s not impossible now. We must not make too many calculations.
Finally, Sarri discussed the conditions of Mattia Zaccagni and Ciro Immobile.
Ciro did gym work two days ago, then a day on the pitch and yesterday training with the team. He didn’t feel any major repercussions to his rib, so he declared himself available.
Zaccagni I don’t know if he took a blow to his ankle, I hope it’s not a sprain but I haven’t spoken to the doctor.
