“Could Have Done Without It” – Sarri Rues His Lazio Experience, Explains Duo’s Lack of Playing Time

Lazio boss Maurizio Sarri admitted he was hoping for a less complicated second stint at Formello upon his return to the club.

Maurizio Sarri Opens up on Difficult Lazio Campaign

The 67-year-old returned to the Italian capital side last June, and the club was slapped with a transfer ban a few weeks later. Lazio’s campaign has also been marred by several injury crisis, controversial refereeing decisions, the sale of key players in January, and a fan protest against the reign of club president Claudio Lotito.

The former Napoli and Chelsea manager believes that his challenging experience could have been useful for a younger coach, but he simply didn’t need all this drama at this stage of his career.

It’s been a very difficult season, not just because of how it started but because of everything that’s happened along the way. I’d call it a formative one. It would’ve been better if it had happened 15 years ago, when I needed that kind of experience more. Now, I could’ve done without it.

The bond with the group and the players has been strong; we had to stick together to get through very tough situations. We’re currently playing without Provedel, Patric, Gila, Zaccagni, Rovella, and in front of a much smaller crowd. Fortunately, the group now feels like a real unit — today’s reaction proves it. It was a game that could have ended badly.

Sarri Defends Lazio Performances Against Parma

Sarri made this admission in his post-match interviews following Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Parma at home (via La Lazio Siamo Noi). Tijjani Noslin’s second-half equalizer nullified Enrico Del Prato’s early opener. Despite failing to win at home, the manager feels that this result extended Lazio’s positive run.

I consider this match part of a positive run that continues. When opponents adopt this kind of approach, the patience to carry the game into the final twenty minutes at 0-0 is crucial. A mistake can come, concentration can drop, and usually you win those games.

In the first half we moved the ball too much to feet, without movement. It becomes difficult to break through. In the second half we raised the tempo and became more dangerous; I see it as a good reaction in a match that could have become very difficult.

Sarri Reluctant to Play Lazzari with Nuno Tavares

Manuel Lazzari replaced Adam Marusic at the hour mark, and his introduction lit up the dormant right flank. However, Sarri believes that fielding the Italian and Nuno Tavares together in the full-back roles can be too risky.

I was already thinking about Lazzari at half-time, with his off-the-ball movement and his give-and-go play could create situations. He’s a player who should probably be used more for how he trains and what he brings when he comes on, but it’s not always easy to find balance with Lazzari and Tavares.

Tavares had been doing well recently, and Lazzari has been a bit penalised because of that.

Petar Ratkov Still Trying to Adjust to Lazio

While Lazzari at least had a second-half cameo, January signing Petar Ratkov was an unused substitute once more. The Lazio manager reveals that the Serbian striker still needs time to adapt to his new surroundings.

Ratkov is still a bit behind based on what he’s showing right now. It’s normal for a young player arriving in a new league, into a group that speaks the same language, with different training methods.

It’s only been two and a half months in Italy, so some struggles are to be expected.

Sarri Comments on Italy Woes

Finally, Sarri was saddened to see the Italian national team miss out on the World Cup for a third straight time, but insists that the Azzurri’s misery isn’t one of his main concerns.

I’m sorry about it, but right now I’ve got other problems to solve and I haven’t thought about it much. It’s a shame, a national team with our tradition should be consistently at the World Cup. Some reflection is needed, but I’m not the right person to make it right now because my focus has been elsewhere.

There’s something to review in the youth systems, but a strong academy produces solid players — talent is something you’re born with. It’s difficult to manufacture talent through academies. There’s certainly huge room for improvement.  We’ve come from a ‘growth decree’ where foreign players cost less than Italians.

From a legislative and EU standpoint, it’s not easy to find a formula to limit the number of foreign players unless there’s an agreement between club presidents. It’s difficult, although there are clearly many areas that can be improved.