Lazio President Claudio Lotito believes new coach Igor Tudor has ‘some of my character’ and hints at Maurizio Sarri ‘creating alibis’ for the team.

It had become clear that the rapport between the patron and his coach had deteriorated, but it was still a surprise to everyone when Sarri handed in his resignation following four consecutive defeats in all competition.

“It was not planned, but when the emergency situation developed, I made a choice and am convinced it was the right one,” Lotito told the official Lazio channel.

After Sarri’s assistant manager Giovanni Martusciello stayed on as caretaker for a Serie A victory away to Frosinone, Tudor was drafted in on an 18-month contract and started training this week.

“I signed a coach who is determined and who knows how to wield both the carrot and the stick, which is important in football.

“We need each individual player to take responsibility, as Lazio is a goal and not a launching pad, recognised by everyone including their new coach.

“Tudor can bring back some of that hunger, that pride and sense of belonging. He can help the team rediscover some of that faith in itself and its potential. In some games, the squad seemed to lose their way, as we got results against the bigger clubs and not the smaller ones.”

There were a few rather pointed jabs from Lotito towards Sarri, who repeatedly said throughout the last two years that Lazio were not equipped to deal with more than one tournament at a time.

“I see some of my own character in Tudor, he is a real person. Everyone seems ready to create alibis for themselves, that is a mistake. It is the wrong signal to send to the team and we need those in the best shape to play.

“Yesterday Tudor said very clearly in his press conference: ‘Playing well is OK, but I am interested in winning.’ Now we have the conditions to achieve that.”

Lazio are still in the Coppa Italia semi-finals, but it will take a remarkable end to the season for them to qualify for the Champions League.

They are currently ninth in Serie A, eight points off Roma in fifth and nine behind fourth-placed Bologna.

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