Maurizio Sarri explains how the False 9 allowed Lazio to effectively confuse Atalanta defenders by ‘not giving any reference points’ and praises the work-rate of his players.
The Biancocelesti have traditionally struggled in the absence of their top scorer Ciro Immobile, but Sarri drew on his long history of creating False 9 stars and allowed Felipe Anderson to flourish.
The Brazilian scored the second goal after a Mattia Zaccagni opener at the Gewiss Stadium, inflicting the first defeat of the season on Atalanta.
Lazio also kept a sixth consecutive Serie A clean sheet, something they hadn’t experienced since Sven-Goran Eriksson in March 1998.
“I want first and foremost to congratulate Atalanta on their playing surface, which is extraordinary and made it easier for us to play,” Sarri told DAZN.
This was a pointed jab at the state of the Stadio Olimpico turf, which had seen him bitterly criticise the groundskeepers.
“It was a good performance and it was mainly to our own credit that Atalanta were unable to create dangerous scoring opportunities. We have seen how much Atalanta trouble the big clubs, not just in Italy, but also around Europe, so it is a satisfying victory, but once we get home, we have to start thinking about Thursday.”
The absence of Immobile forced some changes in the movements of the whole Lazio attack, as Felipe Anderson is a very different player.
“We just had to adapt, as these are players with completely different characteristics. We therefore had to make sure we didn’t give their physical and aggressive defenders any reference points.”
It was good to see the strikers put in a remarkable work-rate, rushing back to help out the defence.
“You could see the determination even in the tiny things, how much nobody wanted to concede a goal, from the strikers to the defenders. It is the attitude of a team that is fully focused, which wasn’t always the case last season.”
Sarri was unusually quiet on the touchline, whereas he is usually seen shouting at his players.
“I was scared of (fourth official Daniele) Orsato, who was man-marking me! No, if the team do what they’re supposed to, there’s no need to shout at them.
“We are seeing that what we prepare in training is coming a lot easier to us during the match scenario than it did last season.
“Alessio Romagnoli needed time to adapt to a different type of defending than he was accustomed to, but has already become a key figure in the squad.”
Matias Vecino has also become a regular in the Lazio midfield, with Luis Alberto left on the bench this evening.
“Luis Alberto has a niggling injury and if we get results like this with Vecino, then we can afford to give Luis time to fully recover.”
No Immobile. No Luis Alberto. No problemo.
What a coach, Master Sarri, Guru if you like.