Maurizio Sarri jokes Ciro Immobile has brought in ‘a new frontier of Sarrismo’ with the route one goal in a 3-0 win over Fiorentina, explains which player ‘really surprised’ him in recent weeks and why he’s not unhappy with the transfer window.
The Biancocelesti had a few early scares, but then ran riot at the Stadio Franchi with Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Ciro Immobile and a Cristiano Biraghi own goal caused by Immobile’s finish.
It was the fourth consecutive clean sheet for Lazio between Serie A and the Coppa Italia, so are they finally becoming a Sarri team?
“We have to respect the characteristics of our players, so at times it is better to sit a little deeper and go on the counter. I always say the players dictate the way you set out the team, especially the strikers,” Sarri told Sky Sport Italia.
Serie A | Fiorentina 0-3 Lazio: Immobile inspires Viola rout
“I saw the lads show patience in their passing tonight. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that we do better when we have a few days to build up and prepare for a match.
“We are also the only team who played several games after 65-70 hours and that inevitably did cost us. Other teams had that to, but not as often as we did.”
It was pointed out to him that the second goal from Immobile was essentially a goal kick, centre-forward rush and score, the precise opposite of Sarri’s credo.
“It’s a new frontier of Sarrismo,” joked the former Napoli, Chelsea and Juventus coach.
“This is a team with a centre-forward who scores over 30 goals per season, so we have to build around his characteristics. There’s no point avoiding that.
“In certain periods, we did what we practiced in training, which is to hold the ball well and control the initiative.”
Despite missing Francesco Acerbi, Lazio have kept four consecutive clean sheets in all competition.
“Luiz Felipe Ramos is more suited to this game, but Patric is surprising me. He has technique and pace, but is also very instinctive. He has genuinely surprised me with his reading of the game over the last month, the defence has been doing well for five or six games now.”
Lazio fans staged a protest at the training ground this week after a lack of transfer activity, bringing in only Jovane Cabral, while Vedat Muriqi and Jony among others were loaned out.
There have been reports Sarri was unhappy with the decisions, to the degree that he might even reconsider a contract extension.
“When you have players you don’t use, it’s only right to send them to play elsewhere. I have no problem with that. As for the rest, the transfer window is closed, we have these lads, I’ve seen definite improvements over the last two months and I am enjoying myself in training.
“Now we’re back into the tour de force of a game every three days and it’ll be tough to train from now on, but as I’ve said the sensations have been positive for a while already.”
Route one stuff but it works for Ciro Immobile!
The Italian shows his strength before running clear for his 18th Serie A goal of the season! 💪 pic.twitter.com/S5XNa1Gwz8
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) February 5, 2022