Maurizio Sarri highlighted how Lazio face numerous dangers in their Champions League clash with Feyenoord and spoke about the differences compared to last year.
The Biancocelesti faced off against the Dutch side in the Europa League group stages last season, where they won 4-2 at home but fell 1-0 away, a result that saw them fall down to the Conference League.
Lazio have looked strong in the Champions League this season and currently tied at the top of their group after a draw with Atletico Madrid and a win over Celtic, adding an extra layer of importance on their clash with third place Feyenoord.
Speaking in a press conference (via La Lazio Siamo Noi), Sarri first discussed the threats posed by Feyenoord.
Lazio have played good games lately, not only in Reggio Emilia. Feyenoord have nothing less than Atletico Madrid. They’re scoring with crazy consistency.
Since last year when they lost in Rome, they haven’t lost for 22 games. They were already difficult to face last year and this year perhaps they have even improved.
He was asked about the ban of away supporters at De Kuip.
When the police are paid and these decisions are made, I don’t understand why they are paid. Collective punishments make no sense, everyone has their own responsibilities.
If someone makes a mistake, he gets five years of punishment and that’s it. How do you ban a family from going on a trip?
The Lazio coach reflected on the two meetings with Feyenoord last year.
This is a different game. If experience were enough, you would go to Barcelona four times and win the fifth time. We know what awaits us, we must have a ferocious approach so as not to suffer.
We will have to be good at suffering and then creating chances as we did last year. Collective suffering and malice on a mental level.
He was asked how he’d feel about a banner in the stands insulting him.
Better they offend than throw p*ss like last year.
Finally, Sarri discussed his squad choices for the key Champions League outing.
Many have the right mindset to play it, we’ll see who to choose. Now you can choose with peace of mind, we won the last two games with substitutions.
At the moment we have many reliable players. This doesn’t mean guarantees on performance and results, I see them every day and you can choose quite calmly.
