Maurizio Sarri’s assistant Giovanni Martusciello admits the lack of goals at Lazio is ‘a problem we need to resolve’ after the stalemate with Napoli.
Sarri left the stadium straight after the match due to a sudden family bereavement, so his long-term assistant manager took the press conference duties.
“We are playing well, but not scoring goals at the moment and it is a problem we need to resolve. I am convinced that when we unblock certain psychological mechanisms, the players can move easier.
“We are pleased with the performance today, even if we had hoped to win. These are not two dropped points, however.
“Unfortunately, we can only do so much tactically to score goals, the players have to contribute the final part to get it over the line.”
The Biancocelesti tried the hardest to take all three points at the Stadio Olimpico and certainly threatened more, as Taty Castellanos scored with a sensational bicycle-kick only after wandering offside, then his cheeky back-heel flick was cleared in the six-yard box by Leo Ostigard.
However, it ended goalless and was another disappointing result following the 3-0 Supercoppa Italiana semi-final defeat to Inter last week in Riyadh.
“We started the game tense and were still smarting from the Supercoppa defeat to Inter. Napoli have a similar approach in terms of possession and quality, so we were worried in the first half.
“I think we didn’t approach the Supercoppa in the right way and made mistakes that we must not repeat. We all got things wrong, the players and staff, but we had a very different level of focus tonight.”
This point does keep Lazio in front of Napoli in the Serie A table, but ends their run of four consecutive Serie A victories.
“It is just past the midway stage of the season and there are seven or eight teams in the running for fourth place who were not in the race last season: Napoli, Atalanta, Bologna, Fiorentina and Roma.
“There is only one spot realistically up for grabs, seeing as Inter, Juventus and Milan have broken away. We will give our all to achieve that objective.”
Grave lutto per Sarri: il tecnico ha lasciato subito lo stadio https://t.co/cknbhDYGPu
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