Maurizio Sarri explains why Lazio have turned a corner in recent weeks, both in their attacking and defending. ‘If two players don’t respect the required movements, it all falls apart.’
The Biancocelesti got straight back on track after their home defeat to Napoli, turning on the style for a 3-0 victory in Cagliari.
Ciro Immobile converted a penalty to equal Silvio Piola’s club record 143 Serie A goals, then Luis Alberto completed a perfect counter-attack and Felipe Anderson scored a sensational solo effort.
Serie A | Cagliari 0-3 Lazio: Aquile turn on the style in Sardinia
“I am satisfied, but perhaps someone hasn’t been watching, as we’ve been playing like this since December,” Sarri told Sky Sport Italia.
“We scored 10 goals in our last four games, so the team has been playing fairly consistently, but we came up against some top level teams on good nights for them and therefore didn’t win. It was still pretty evident that we were and are improving.”
It is also probably not a coincidence that Lazio won eight of their 11 Serie A games this season in which there was not a midweek fixture, so crashing out of the Europa League and Coppa Italia can now be seen as an advantage.
“Playing on Thursday evening in the Europa League and with such a packed fixture list that you can barely ever train is tough for everyone. Perhaps we suffered more than others in dropping so many points after a Thursday match, but we weren’t alone.”
Sarri was asked where he still wants the Biancocelesti to improve after this 3-0 victory.
“When the results don’t match the performances, that means you are doing something wrong. It’s not enormous issues, but the details make the difference, for example the goal we conceded against Napoli 20 seconds from the end was unacceptable.
“We dropped points in Bergamo against Atalanta, Udinese and Napoli by conceding stoppage-time goals, so clearly we didn’t have the right focus on the details in those moments and they proved very costly.”
Lazio are the second most prolific side in Serie A this season, with three fewer goals than leaders Inter, so are becoming more of a Sarri side.
“I am currently happy to be conceding far fewer goals than we did at the start of the season. Football is all about balance, so if you score three goals and concede three, you won’t get very far.
“Naturally, I do like an attacking team, but I’m glad we kept several clean sheets recently. Our defensive movements have to be as a team, so if two players don’t respect the required movements, it all falls apart.
“Once those mechanisms and movements settle into the minds of the players, it becomes automatic and all very simple.”
That is ruthless from Lazio! ⚡️
A wonderful move started and finished by Luis Alberto doubles their advantage over Cagliari. pic.twitter.com/JkQdHUvbBt
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) March 5, 2022
I still think if Ciro is still the main striker for italy
we are going to suffer badly in the play offs