Maurizio Sarri reveals Juventus directors told him to ignore Lazio for the Serie A title race in 2020: ‘Only focus on Inter.’
The Italian tactician spoke at a press conference on Wednesday, on the eve of Lazio’s Europa League clash against CFR Cluj at the Stadio Olimpico. He was asked whether being eliminated by the competition would increase their chances of earning a top-four finish in Serie A.
“Every season is different,” admitted Sarri, “but I can tell you what Juventus thought about this.
“When Lazio were behind us [Juventus] by one or two points and the new fixture list was released, Juventus directors told me to only focus on Inter because Lazio would not make it.”
Sarri was appointed by Juventus in the summer of 2019 and won the last Serie A title for the Bianconeri that season before being sacked in August.
Antonio Conte was in charge of Inter, while Simone Inzaghi was the coach of a Lazio side heavily involved in the title race before the COVID pandemic at the start of 2020.
Lazio have won just two of their last five Serie A matches under Sarri and currently sit sixth in the table, just two points below a Champions League placement.
Sarri joined Lazio in 2021 and last summer he signed a contract extension with the Biancocelesti until 2025.