Lazio coach Maurizio Sarri is being criticised for trying to ‘copy’ Pep Guardiola’s playing style at Lazio.
The Biancocelesti suffered a 2-1 home loss to Bologna on Sunday, just days after a 1-0 victory over Bayern Munich.
Lazio had taken the lead at minute 18 through Gustav Isaksen and dominated for most of the first half, creating at least two or three goal-scoring opportunities to double their lead.
However, they gifted the equaliser to the visitors just before the break, losing possession inside the box.
On Monday, Italian sports papers, particularly Corriere dello Sport, criticised Lazio’s constant attempts to build from the back.
“Copying Guardiola’s concepts is fascinating, but it brings some risks, like the mess made by Provedel and Luis Alberto,” wrote journalist Stefano Chioffi on page 3.
“Building up from the back every time is a terrible habit, even if it’s one of the distinguishing marks of Pep Guardiola, who is accustomed to working with magicians like Foden or Bernardo Silva at Manchester City.
“Sarri loves managing the ball, but in Formello, he often repeats that common sense must prevail.
“Lazio’s exaggerated self-confidence sometimes turns into arrogance and immaturity as it happened yesterday with a dangerous tiki-taka inside their own box.”
The Biancocelesti currently sit eighth in the Serie A table, eight points below Bologna and Atalanta in fourth.
The Biancocelesti have won 10 Serie A games from 24, drawing six and losing eight. However, they have also qualified for the Coppa Italia semi-finals and the Champions League Round of 16 beating Bayern Munich 1-0 in the first leg played in Rome last week.
Sarri out!
Sempre Lazio!