Maurizio Sarri was bitterly disappointed following Lazio’s worrying 2-1 loss to Fiorentina, highlighting the team’s concerning ‘mental strength’.
The Biancocelesti looked thoroughly outclassed in their Monday evening clash with the Viola, being flattered by the 2-1 scoreline at the Stadio Artemio Franchi considering the balance of play, with the hosts hitting the woodwork countless times.
The defeat leaves Lazio eighth in the Serie A table after 26 games, eight points behind fourth place Bologna. The team can’t afford to lose any more ground in the coming weeks if they want to retain any hope of qualifying for the Champions League.
Speaking in a press conference (via La Lazio Siamo Noi), Sarri was first asked about the lack of usage of certain players like Daichi Kamada and Valentin Castellanos.
Everyone signs who they want… It seems to me that in July, the club were clear about who were doing the transfers. If I ask you for a player who is plan A, and you make me choose between C and D… It’s not like I did the market.
But it’s not part of the discussion to be had this evening, we have mitigating circumstances but not many excuses, the performance was bad and the mental flatness evident. We weren’t shaken by the undeserved advantage, the draw or the disadvantage… Heavy performance.
There were fears but even in a bad match I expected better. We went onto the pitch with two or three players who needed to take a breath or had flu symptoms. And there were those who came on without having trained for some time with the team.
The tensions and physical accumulation make you heavy, I saw the team dull. To be able to play four competitions like us you need a strong material and mental structure, people used to playing every three days.
He reacted to the Biancocelesti’s performance in their loss to Fiorentina.
I saw a team that were halfway there in all aspects. We wanted to keep the line high without covering the ball and this is the first inconsistency. When we wanted to dribble, we made a lot of mistakes, just think of the equalizer.
The Lazio coach provided an update on the state of his squad.
Provedel is ill, Casale too. Romagnoli also felt like he couldn’t breathe due to a sore throat. Cataldi wasn’t at his best either.
Sarri was asked if the situation was starting to get out of hand.
There’s a big difference between the match in Turin and today. It’s the same question you’ve been asking me for four months. I’ll write you a letter and I’ll write you three or four things. I’d like a football question. Tonight, the team didn’t do the type of football I like, this is evident.
In recent years Lazio had gotten out of control for many. It hasn’t often happened to be in three competitions in February.
Finally, Sarri was asked if Lazio’s cycle had started to come to a close.
They end in an inevitable way. They’re a team with a very high average age and which will be re-founded. But they also have a base from which to start again.
I only brought up any mitigating issues tonight. This is a team at risk in terms of mentality. Last year too we had matches at the level of tonight, like the one in Denmark.
In terms of mental strength, we’re not talking about willpower, we’ve always struggled a bit. I’m speaking as a group, as a staff and as an environment. I’m interested in the group and I’m trying to change the mentality. If they change it, then they can ignore the pressure too.
