Lazio president Claudio Lotito and coach Maurizio Sarri had a long and tense meeting last night, coming head to head over the transfer market.
Il Messaggero (via LazioNews24) details how the Biancocelesti president spent two and a half hours with the head coach yesterday, meeting him alongside the backroom staff and acting sporting director Angelo Fabbiani.
The main point of contention was the transfer market and a misunderstanding between the pair. Lotito is convinced that Lazio achieved a second-place finish last season because of the core already present in the squad, and therefore believes that only a few players are needed to perfect the team.
Sarri, on the other hand, considers the result to be a miracle and expects a far more difficult season next term, should a number of key reinforcements not arrive to bolster the squad. He has been left furious regarding the lack of work in the market so far.
The Lazio coach didn’t shy away from his various frustrations, complaining about the lack of a true replacement for Igli Tare, the failure to rehome multiple unneeded players and the lack of arriving reinforcements.
Sarri highlighted four key reinforcements to Lotito back in March – Samuele Ricci, Piotr Zielinski, Domenico Berardi and Mario Rui. He is hoping to see at least a couple of these targets arrive.
The 2nd place WAS a miracle, Sarri is right. Last season, no one except Napoli, could mantain a strong form. Juve, Inter, Roma, Milan, Atalanta and Lazio as well – all had their ups and downs. Series of bad games combined with poor form. Big names often lost points with smaller teams and this inconsistancy helped Lazio to achieve silver spot.
… and Lazio squad was so thin (quality-wise), that they couldn’t compete in Europe. Maximiano, Gila, Basić, Marcos Antonio, Cancellieri were poor bench options. There is no hope to play them in UCL. So far SMS left so team is weaker than last season. Without Pellegrini we once again have 0 LBs.
Lazio need SMS replacement. Then 2 other CMs as bench alternatives. A proper LB for starting 11. Then a new right winger and backup goalkeeper. That’s 2-3 players for starting eleven and 3 for bench.
Lazio is just an average club under Lotito. Game has changed, and we’re watching the train pass while others are killing it..