With tensions continuing to rise in the days leading up to the Derby della Capitale, Roma coach Jose Mourinho and his Lazio counterpart Maurizio Sarri are dealing with similar problems, Apollo Heyes notes.
The Rome derby is always a spectacle, regardless of the positions or qualities of the two participants, and this weekend’s offering will prove no different. The match kicks off at 17.00 UK time at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday November 12.
Opening shots have already been fired by both sides. Mourinho, as expected, kickstarted proceedings by highlighting how Lazio will have two extra days of rest compared to his Roma.
This was referencing the Biancocelesti’s Tuesday evening Champions League outing and the Giallorossi’s Thursday evening Europa League affair.
Sarri, of course, responded after the win over Feyenoord, suggesting that Roma ‘could afford to play a friendly’ against Slavia Prague whilst his Lazio side ‘went to war’ in their Champions League outing.
The Portuguese coach obviously wasn’t impressed by this assessment and felt that the comment ‘is the difference between a coach who has won 26 titles and one that has barely won anything’.
Roma ultimately went on to lose to Slavia Prague in a frustrating and concerning 2-0 loss, so maybe his players listened to the wrong coach in the Italian capital.
Regardless, both Roma and Lazio are arriving at the first Derby della Capitale of the season with similar issues. Both suffered disappointing starts to their seasons, and both have found more joy in their respective European competitions.
Neither club invested particularly heavily in the summer transfer window and both coaches were left a little disappointed by their reinforcements, although Sarri will likely be the happier of the two.
The two Roman sides are within a point of each other in the league table, outside the European spots, and both are desperate to secure Champions League qualification to move their projects forward.
Roma and Lazio also talk a lot about new stadiums and yet neither have made particularly huge strides forward, continuing to share the antiquated Stadio Olimpico. They’re both also dealing with annoyingly inconsistent performances.
Where the two sides differ, however, is the paths that lay ahead of their respective coaches. One has reiterated his desire to close out his career in the Italian capital, whilst the other seems destined to leave next summer.
Mourinho’s contract expires with Roma at the end of the season and there seems to be no chance that he’ll pen a new deal, so this weekend’s derby could very well be his penultimate one in the capital (although the two could also face off in the Coppa Italia quarter-finals).
Sarri, on the other hand, is still seemingly enjoying his time with Lazio despite the occasional clashes with president Claudio Lotito. He recently told the press that he intended to close out his managerial career with the club, giving them more stability looking ahead in their project.
The derby therefore carries different weight for the pair – for Mourinho, this is his chance to start a swansong run with Roma in Serie A, hoping a win will give his players the fire needed to push for a top four spot, whilst Sarri will be fighting for rejuvenated belief in his system and project with another Derby della Capitale triumph.
Words: @ApolloHeyes
Mourinho can’t understand the better teams play on Tuesdays in the CL , the lesser teams Thursday in EL ! Maybe qualify for the CL you doughnut!