Maurizio Sarri admits Lazio lost their heads against Salernitana, but is also livid with the referee for ruling Sergej Milinkovic-Savic out of the Rome Derby. ‘If I say what I think, they’ll give me a six-month ban.’
The Biancocelesti were on such a roll going into this game, managing six consecutive clean sheets in Serie A and taking the lead through Mattia Zaccagni.
However, they fell apart in the second half, conceding two goals quickly from Antonio Candreva and Federico Fazio, then losing their heads after Milinkovic-Savic received a harsh yellow card that means he’ll be suspended for the Rome Derby.
Sarri had even initially left the Serbian on the bench to avoid that risk.
Salernitana then added a third with Boulaye Dia for their first ever victory away to Lazio.
“We had the game completely in hand until the equaliser, which caught us unprepared. We probably assumed the game was won and that made us lose all our balance and shape,” Sarri told DAZN.
“The game changed after it went to 1-1, the referee did not help keep the situation calm, but we still should’ve had the strength to overcome all of that.”
Naturally, one of the first things on Sarri’s mind was that yellow card, as it seemed like Milinkovic-Savic simply ran into Dylan Bronn rather than intentionally stamped on his foot.
“Not only was it not a yellow card, it wasn’t even a foul,” said the coach. “Milinkovic-Savic had already passed the ball, the other player was late and there was no way to avoid the collision.
“In 50 years of football I have never seen this type of yellow card given for a team that is attacking and in possession. If I say what I really think, they will give me a six-month ban.”
Sarri also spoke to Lazio Style Radio and was a little more blunt in his analysis.
“I know what I think, I cannot tell you, but you can imagine it. I think it’s the same referee who booked Mattia Zaccagni that time and that was another incident where he needed a fertile imagination to see that as simulation.
“Looking back, I might’ve started Milinkovic-Savic. The more you try to control these situations, the more chaotic it becomes.”
Lazio are now extremely tense and irritable going into a crucial week, as they face a trip to Feyenoord to secure Europa League qualification and then Roma in the derby without Milinkovic-Savic or injured Ciro Immobile.
“We need to get ourselves back in order and start again, beginning with the trip to Holland, then we can think about the derby after that.”