Maurizio Sarri maintains ‘mentality’ was the only key to tonight’s transformative Lazio performance to beat Napoli, but they remain ‘vulnerable’ to going off the boil again.
The Biancocelesti had a disastrous start to the season after defeats to minnows Lecce and Genoa, so confidence was low going into the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
However, they emerged with a 2-1 victory and it could easily have been more, as VAR narrowly disallowed Mattia Zaccagni and debutant Matteo Guendouzi goals for offside.
Luis Alberto’s cheeky back-heel flick was cancelled out by a deflected Piotr Zielinski strike, but the Spaniard’s dummy let through a Felipe Anderson pass for Daichi Kamada to net the winner.
“It was a good performance. The first half we were under pressure, but after the restart I think we dominated,” Sarri told DAZN.
“We scored 3-1 twice, it felt like the extra goal was in the air, it’s a pity they were disallowed. One seemed perfectly fine from the bench, they told me the first was centimetres and the second could be debated all night.”
The Guendouzi goal was a little more contentious, because Zaccagni was offside and considered to be interfering with play when Giovanni Di Lorenzo intercepted the pass heading his way, instead setting up the Frenchman.
Sarri had said before kick-off that he did not believe Lazio’s struggles this season were about poor physical condition and is more certain than ever now he was correct.
“Our second half proves the fitness levels were not the issue. It was just about mentality and today we were strong there too, because we held out under pressure, continued to keep our focus even after two disallowed goals and brought home the win. This was the mentality we didn’t show in the first two games.
“Defending is about focus, spirit of sacrifice and concentration, so that is particularly linked with the right mental attitude.”
Although both goals were disallowed, debutant Guendouzi made a big impact by hitting the back of the net and providing the assist for Zaccagni.
“I remember him being a player of great intensity. He can also give us balance, because he has good defensive qualities too, so can be extremely useful. Even if he only had two training sessions with us, he seemed focused and was quick to pick up what we told him.”
Kamada is the only summer signing who has been playing regularly in the starting XI for Lazio and today scored his first goal.
“Kamada struggled in the first 15 minutes, like the whole team, and then did really well. I am trying to get him to improve gradually, but I am pleased to see his progress.”
Sarri has for two years complained that his Lazio fly from one extreme to the other, so which is the real Lazio, the one that lost the first two games or tonight’s performance?
“I can only tell you what I hope is the answer, but we know that we are vulnerable in that sense.”