Maurizio Sarri has said that he is pleased with Lazio’s performances in Serie A over the course of the 2022-23 season, but confessed there is still room for his players to grow and mature after fighting back to seal a 3-2 victory over Cremonese on Sunday afternoon.
Lazio had found themselves two goals to the good heading into half-time at the Stadio Olimpico in their penultimate game of the season, only to concede twice within five minutes to already-relegated Cremonese before the hour mark.
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic added his second of the afternoon in the 89th minute to put the victory back in the hands of the Biancocelesti, confirming that Lazio can no longer finish anywhere lower than third heading into the final round next weekend.
Asked to assess his team’s season during the post-match press conference, Sarri said: “I don’t like to give myself grades, I never liked them in 21 years of school. We had a poor season in Europe, but we were incredible in the league and exceeded expectations. Nobody thought we were going to finish higher than seventh place.
“We have grown, but we are not yet fully mature as a team. These matches are always like this. 2-0 against a relegated team, you stop defending, they score and then suddenly you find yourself at 2-2. It’s a story that’s been told before, I’ve been telling the team for two days that it could have ended like this.
“We still need to finish well, we want to finish second. It won’t be easy in Empoli. It would be bad to give up one step away from such an important goal. Two years ago there were 20,000 people in the stadium, but today you realise what the people of Lazio can bring us.”
Sarri was also asked how things could look for Lazio heading into Champions League football next season and whether he is expecting any major arrivals in the summer.
He responded: “The most important aspect is that strong players arrive. However, we are becoming a team that manages to find space even when we have to dribble around for a long time. We also need decisive players, who are natural forwards first and foremost, who would help us reach the end of the season with more ease.
Sarri had also chatted to DAZN after the final whistle at the Stadio Olimpico and spoke of Stefan Radu, who today was involved in the final home game of his 15-year Lazio career.
“I would have loved to have coached Radu a few years ago,” Sarri said. “I had him in the final part of his career and I really appreciated him as a player but especially as a person, he’s a really great character.”