Maurizio Sarri explains why he showed his middle finger to a Verona staff member in Lazio‘s 2-0 win over Hellas Verona today.
The touchline incident happened at minute 73 (see), shortly after the Biancocelesti’s opening goal scored by Ciro Immobile.
Gazzetta and DAZN report Sarri was arguing with a Verona staff member, namely Alessandro Mazzola, the club’s team manager and a former Gialloblu midfielder.
“I had the feeling he had told me ‘Sit down,'” Sarri explained at a press conference as quoted by LaLazioSiamonoi.
“After that, we cleared up and we laughed about it.”
Sarri also clarified that he clashed with Verona director Francesco Marroccu: “I’ve known him for many years, he had told me ‘calm down’ not sit down.'”
Lazio are now three points behind Serie A leaders Napoli, Atalanta and Milan. They have lost just one of the opening six Serie A games of the season, at home against Inter.
On Thursday, they will visit Midtjylland in the second Europa League group stage game, while the next Serie A match is away at Cremonese on Sunday, September 18.
The Biancocelesti target a top-four finish after ending 2021-22 in fifth place. Their best scorer Ciro Immobile now has three goals in six Serie A games, while Sergej Milinkovic-Savic has delivered 23 of his 41 Serie A assists to the Italy star.