Maurizio Sarri hit back at critics who claim Lazio have become too predictable after defeat to Inter, but insists their ‘real level is somewhere between’ last season’s second place and their current 11th.
The Aquile had more possession at the Stadio Olimpico, but paid a heavy price for their defensive errors and poor finishing, particularly the Adam Marusic back-pass that gifted Lautaro Martinez the opener.
Nicolò Barella then sent Marcus Thuram down the left to score the second, but Lazio wasted their chances above all with Daichi Kamada and Nicolò Rovella.
Manuel Lazzari let the frustration get to him and was shown a straight red card late on for clearly swearing at the referee.
“The performance was good until the second goal. In the first 20 minutes after the restart, we didn’t let Inter into our penalty area,” Sarri told DAZN.
“Unfortunately, we played on level terms with a very strong opponent and were penalised by a mistake and a half.”
Marusic was given some forgiveness by the studio pundits for that howler because Mario Gila pointed towards the channel he passed it into, but Sarri was not having it.
“I tell the players to pass the ball where I can see, not where they point. It’s a mistake.”
The fans jeered at the final whistle and once again Sarri feels that the expectations far outweigh their capabilities.
“I think the fans were jeering for previous errors, not the current ones. I see this performance as solid foundations to build on for the future.”
It was put to Sarri that Lazio are now perhaps a little too predictable in their tactics, but his response was one of mockery.
“I’m sorry, but this makes me laugh, it is a cliché. Barcelona won 10 years playing the same way, at Napoli in three years we scored 30 goals with the same move of Lorenzo Insigne cutting inside and crossing to Jose Callejon.
“The trouble is that we create three or four chances and do not convert them. Last season we were first in terms of goal conversion, this season I think we’re 16th.
“We passed the ball with greater speed than before, we did fairly well on the right flank, can improve on the left. The most fundamental areas where we need to improve are in the final third, as we had tonight three shamefully poor shots from outside the box.
“You just have to look at the statistics, we play practically the same number of passes in the box as last season, we have more or less the same shots, but we don’t convert them, especially with our strikers. Perhaps we never had our forwards in great shape this season, as Zaccagni and Immobile had injuries, Felipe Anderson seemed to be improving this evening.
“I hope that by passing the ball around quicker, we can be more incisive.”
The result leaves the Biancocelesti down in 11th place, now seven points adrift of Bologna in fourth, so was last season’s second place a fluke?
“I think our real level is somewhere between what we achieved last season and where we are now. I think I was the only one to be clear-headed in my description of the situation, which was that we made the most of other teams slipping up and sneaked in for second place.
“That is not our real level, just as our real level is not the current one, as proved by the first 60 minutes of our performance against the leaders.
“We need to take the positives, analyse the two or three mistakes – as I feel the second goal was gifted too with a loose ball in midfield we did not deal with – and those details can make the difference. When you make a mistake and a half against teams of this level, you can concede two goals.”
Meanwhile, Lazio are waiting for tomorrow’s Champions League draw to discover their Round of 16 opponents.