Maurizio Sarri was furious after a 2-1 defeat to Napoli, accusing the referees and VAR of having it in for Lazio, then hit out at President Aurelio De Laurentiis. ‘Either they are bad at their jobs or the alternative is very worrying.’
It is always a special game against his former club and Mattia Zaccagni had given Lazio the lead at the Stadio Olimpico, but Kim Min-jae’s header and a Kvicha Kvaratskhelia scorcher turned it around.
Ivan Provedel also kept the scoreline down with some tough saves, as did the frame of the goal on Victor Osimhen and Kvaratskhelia.
Lazio were furious in the final minutes when VAR did not intervene, as Mario Rui seemed to raise an elbow to Manuel Lazzari’s face inside the penalty area.
“It looks pretty clear to me. There was also a foul on Luis Alberto that allowed Kim to get the header on the corner. Either those in the VAR booth are bad at their jobs or the other alternative is very worrying,” Sarri told Sky Sport Italia.
“I also don’t see how all our players got booked in a game that was substantially calm. It’s like the referees saw us against Bologna, decided they were going to clamp down on us and made that clear from the start. These are the consequences.
“I think action needs to be taken, serious action needs to be taken by the refereeing hierarchy.”
Napoli seemed to be playing at a completely different tempo in the second half, while Lazio took a while to get back into the game.
“We struggled enormously in the opening minutes of the second half, but after that we did well and felt like we could get the match back on track.
“Napoli are a very strong team, they could easily have won it a different way, but the fact it was won like this leaves a bitter taste in the mouth.
“Scoring so early made us sit back a bit too much, that may well be true.”
Sarri was never fond of squad rotation and has been very limited in his changes so far this season.
“I wanted to give an identity to the team before starting the rotation. If the side has an identity, it is easier for the others to come in and not change too much. Clearly, as the weeks wear on, we have to adapt.
“We are working, it’s a good environment and we could not expect to win every game, there are teams in the league stronger than us, but we are having our say against them all. I feel the gap is getting smaller.”
It is never a normal game when Sarri takes on Napoli, but he is also still not over the way his rapport with the club came to an ugly end.
“What it inspired tonight was slight irritation. There are very few guys who were there when I was at Napoli, seeing them without Dries Mertens and Lorenzo Insigne was a little strange. I have very fond memories of Napoli and one very bad one, which was the President announced Carlo Ancelotti was the new coach without telling me.
“My contract was still valid to May 30 and Ancelotti was announced on May 21, so it wouldn’t have been hard to inform me.”
Did Sarri talk to President Aurelio De Laurentiis to clear this up?
“No, if Aurelio talks, he is always right.”
100% Spot on. Woeful refereeing.
I have always respected you Maurizio but those are the comments of a sore loser.
Mal DiTesta
Mario Rui elbows Manuel right under his chin ffs. I’m not sure you even know what respect means.
Never a pen in a million years!!!
I didn’t hear Sarri make much of a fuss when they were awarded an offside goal last season to win the game late against Spezia??
Lazio were played off the park. If they deserved perhaps 1 more goal, Napoli deserved 4. Best to keep his head down and work.
@Fate maybe, but it doesn’t mean Rui didn’t elbow Lazzari..
@Rosario, respect extends to trusting match officials who saw the incident and then reviewed it with VAR. I think maybe it is you who should do research on the meaning.
Sarri is reaching on the “elbow to the face”.. his arm came in contact yes but who caused it? The face to the arm or the arm to the face and his arm is where it is ..the arm did not use a striking motion as lazzari claimed