Sarri: ‘Feyenoord as good as Atletico Madrid’

Maurizio Sarri insists Feyenoord are just as good as Atletico Madrid and Ciro Immobile is fully focused on Lazio in the Champions League.

It kicks off at the De Kuip stadium on Wednesday at 17.45 UK time (16.45 GMT).

The Biancocelesti are joint group leaders with Atletico Madrid on four points, followed by Feyenoord on three, while Celtic are the whipping boys on zero.

“Atletico Madrid have nothing that Feyenoord can envy,” said Sarri in his press conference.

“They are scoring goals with remarkable consistency. Since they lost to Roma in the Europa League last season, Feyenoord are unbeaten in 22 matches. They were already difficult last term and if anything have improved this season.”

Feyenoord caused Lazio a lot of problems and finished ahead of them in the Europa League fixture last year.

“This is a different game. If experience was enough, we could visit Barcelona four times and win the fifth. We know what awaits us, we must have a ferocious approach from the start. Collective suffering under pressure and mental determination.”

The Biancocelesti are rotating the squad rather more than in the past under Sarri and he is glad to have more alternatives.

“Many look in the right mood to play, I’ll see who I choose tomorrow. We won the last two games with our substitutes, so at this moment we have many players who are reliable.”

There will be no Lazio fans in the arena tomorrow, as the Dutch authorities banned them from travelling, just as the Italian officials ruled Feyenoord supporters cannot attend at the Stadio Olimpico in the return fixture.

This is due to a long history of problems involving the Feyenoord fans, who famously damaged an ancient fountain in Rome’s historic centre ahead of a match against Roma.

“I think that these punishments that hit everyone make no sense, each individual has their own responsibility. If someone makes a mistake, he is banned for five years and that’s the end of it. How can you prevent a family from travelling to watch a game?”

At the same time, Sarri is also fully aware that the crowds can be a little over the top and was asked about an offensive banner against him.

“I prefer they insult me rather than throw urine like they did last year.”

There has been controversy around Immobile too, as the captain said he was not sure if he made the right decision turning down a move to Saudi Arabia.

“He seemed alright mentally, but after three weeks without training he cannot be in top shape, nor can he play 90 minutes, but mentally he seemed fine.”