Lazio coach Maurizio Sarri said Felipe Anderson should be available for the first game against Empoli and that Pedro Rodriguez could play a role on Saturday, but stressed he has ‘not had any problems’ with Luis Alberto.
Ahead of his first competitive game as Lazio coach, Sarri spoke to the press about the squad and the preparations for the new campaign.
Felipe Anderson has returned to the Olimpico and Sarri expects to have him available for the opening game against newly promoted Empoli.
“He should be available, he had to sort out bureaucratic matters and was busy with those for a day and a half,” Sarri said at a press conference.
“I’ve seen him play both at left and right, we’ll see later how to use him. I think I’ll alternate.”
Luis Alberto has had a controversial summer, but Sarri seems to have put the problems with the Spanish midfielder to bed and expects him to help out this season.
“He had difficulties due to physical ailments, but this week he has trained regularly,” Sarri. “He starts to understand [what I want from him], he has talent and an extraordinary technique.
“From the behavioural point of view, he has a particular character, he is introverted. We will get to know each other, and we will get along. I have not had any problems with him.”
But Luis Alberto could be on the bench against Empoli, as Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro could start the first League game.
“We will see tomorrow, we still have some training to do,” Sarri said. “Akpa Akpro guarantees us dynamism and quality.
“He has many and will come in handy during the season.”
The 16-year-old Argentine Luka Romero has arrived from Mallorca in July and Sarri is very impressed with the youngster.
“I have never seen a 16-year-old with his quality and determination,” he said. “He trains fiercely, he is attentive.
“He is missing something physically, but that’s normal. Even if he is not completely ready, he will be able to help us.”
Pedro Rodriguez joined Lazio from Roma to reunite with the former Chelsea coach, but Sarri said he doesn’t ‘talk about the market’ in the media.
“I do another job, I don’t talk about the market,” Sarri added. “This topic remains heavy to me, it’s boring.
“The media have accustomed people to talk about the market and it seems normal to talk about this. Pedro was among the 10 to 15 names we had on the list, yes, I opened a gate, and we signed him. I’m Happy.”
But Sarri doesn’t know if the winger will be introduced already against Empoli.
“It’s hard to say, in the last few days we have increased the load a little. He’s brilliant, he always is, and I think he can play some of the game.”
Joaquin Correa has been linked with a move to Inter this summer and Sarri said the Argentine’s role at Lazio must be ‘evaluated’ and stressed the attacker is not in the ‘ideal mental condition’ to play.
“We still have to evaluate. We are talking about a strong player, but he expressed his idea about the future un unsuspecting times,” Sarri added. “He’s not in the ideal mental condition to play matches.
“He is behaving very well, in training he gives everything. I would see him well both as a winger and as a striker.
“We have [Ciro] Immobile, which is clearly a point of reference, perhaps the most important point of reference.”
Sarri said the situation at the Aquile is ‘evolving’ with every day, as he continues to build his team.
“We are building, the situation is evolving and evolving,” Sarri continued. “We are working, I consider myself a specialist and I would like to see everything work in the best way.
“Probably this season we will need to do better in the next ones. It’s not easy to build, I have seen a great level of application.
“You change the way of thinking about football and in some moments the evolution seems faster, in others it seems less.
“But the lads are making themselves available and this makes me happy, I’m having fun.”
Sarri faces his former team Empoli in the first Serie A game with the Biancocelesti and the former Napoli coach praised President Fabrizio Corsi.
“It will be a difficult match, if they play like in the first half against Vicenza, they will put us in difficulty and make us dance, with quality players available,” he said.
“They are a very technical and brilliant team. Corsi is extraordinary in building teams, he’s the only President I had with whom you could talk about tactics.
“He knows how to build teams. We will restart from sixth place last year, we will see if we go up or down.”
Grande Mister