Maurizio Sarri reflected on Lazio’s disappointing defeat to Salernitana and underlined the expectations for his squad in their Champions League match with Celtic.
The Roman side’s frustrating 2-1 loss to Salernitana on the weekend was another misstep in the league, their sixth of the campaign, and reports now suggest that president Claudio Lotito is thinking of possible replacements for the end of the season.
Sarri has previously noted his desire to end his career with Lazio and still has time to turn things around, starting with the Champions League clash with Celtic. Victory against the Scots and an Atletico Madrid win over Feyenoord would take the Biancocelesti to the knockout stages.
Speaking in a press conference (via TMW), Sarri first spoke about what he’s received from the squad after the loss to Salernitana.
I don’t want to have signals now, but tomorrow. We lost a match due to superficiality, due to lack of determination, in a bad way. So, the team must respond not in words, but on the pitch.
I said what I had to say yesterday, now we need to regroup without going any further, hoping that the Champions League atmosphere will give us something more.
He touched on the reaction of club director Angelo Mariano Fabiani.
The director intervened, in a very tough way. I’m happy about this, it was needed in my opinion.
He was asked if the Lazio old guard could help turn things around.
Now there is no longer the old guard and the new. We need to reset. It’s useless to talk about tactics, when a team enters the pitch less decisive than the other, they don’t win. Tactics can help, but they are not enough.
The Lazio coach was posed the idea that his side may be too predictable and need changes.
Barcelona dominated for ten years by always playing the same way. This is bar talk that doesn’t interest me.
Sarri highlighted how things seemed normal during the pre-season preparations.
The training camp was done at good levels. Something changed afterwards, during the summer the atmosphere was of an excellent level.
He spoke highly about the Biancocelesti’s opponents Celtic.
They have decent technical qualities, they play at a very high pace. They’re not an easy team to face. The two away defeats were conditioned by a double numerical inferiority. It will be a complicated match tomorrow.
The Italian coach touched on the poor mentality against provincial clubs.
The mentality depends on 2000 factors, not just on the coach’s words. Most likely on an environmental level something transmits little, here is the problem given that players and coaches have changed.
Finally, Sarri discussed the status of his injured players.
Zaccagni, Romagnoli and Casale, who is improving, are all out. Rovella is better. Let’s see today and then take stock.
