Maurizio Sarri underlined how Lazio cannot afford to drop focus after picking up a vital three points in the win over Udinese.
The Biancocelesti edged out a 1-0 victory away in Udine after a second half penalty from talismanic striker Ciro Immobile, giving them a key boost in their race for a top four finish. Inter’s defeat to Napoli allowed Sarri’s side to leapfrog them to third, putting the Champions League within their grasp.
Lazio’s final two games of the Serie A season are against Cremonese on May 28 and Empoli on June 4, two matches that shouldn’t be too complicated for the Biancocelesti should they stay focused.
Speaking in a press conference (via La Lazio Siamo Noi) after the match, Sarri first discussed the work of Luis Alberto.
This is shown by my choices. From November onwards he has become another player, a total player. He has great defensive participation, with the same technical quality as before.
He is much more complete, he is a player I want to keep if he wants to stay. If he stays, I am the first to be happy.
He was asked about the decisive penalty call and if it was correct.
If you have a discussion and everyone keeps their sides then there was another penalty and a half for us. Foul on Immobile and the one on Pedro, I wouldn’t give it though…
I would go to the substance. It’s not much to have won only 1-0, we could have won more clearly.
The 64-year-old Italian coach commented on if second place was the goal.
We’re thinking about getting into the Champions League, if we score on Sunday, we’ll aim for both goals.
We’ll think about it then eventually in Empoli, the objective is to celebrate with our fans on Sunday. We’re not interested in tomorrow.
He touched on what’s changed since the team’s 1-0 loss to Torino back in April.
Our physical numbers never changed. Then in the end we struggled with the three games in six days. With Lecce we were already growing beyond the incidents. Today we were also on the rise. I don’t think it’s a physical problem.
I had said the thing about the preparation recall because I wanted to safeguard the team. I think that at that moment we paid for the belief that we had already arrived at the finish line. If you give up a little this is a season that is more difficult than in the past.
Before there was much more differential, now it has thinned out. If you give up even the slightest bit you’re going to lose, and that’s how it was for us a couple of games.
Finally, Sarri was asked how he feels following this round of Serie A matches.
I feel satisfaction with the results of the others. Only Napoli and Atalanta won. It was a very delicate match, at this moment there is satisfaction and concern for the environment in Rome. We risk looking sh*t on Sunday night.
