Though Maurizio Sarri wants Lazio to do as well as possible in the Champions League, he believes that the team’s most realistic chance of qualifying for the competitions again next season will be through their league finish in Serie A.
Sarri addressed the media on Monday afternoon on the eve of the Biancocelesti’s Champions League group stage clash with Eredivisie outfit Feyenoord.
At the halfway stage of the groups, Lazio find themselves in third of group E with four points, sitting behind Tuesday’s opponents at the top and Atletico Madrid in third.
One of the first questions of the afternoon was whether Lazio can expect a home win on Tuesday, given that they comfortably saw off Feyenoord with a 4-2 victory last year.
“This year they are stronger, so no,” Sarri replied, as reported by TMW. “Let’s build on the match from two weeks ago. They play with real intensity and have great energy. We have to move the ball at a good speed, we hope that the condition of the pitch will allow us to do that.
“In Rotterdam they won and they made us look like fools. Tomorrow we need to play with humility and confidence, because we are neither superior nor inferior to anyone.
“We are still halfway through the group, it’s a very important match in the dynamic of the group. I don’t like hearing people say that it has to be won at all costs. We will try to play the match tomorrow as normal.”
Sarri then went in on those who criticise the team’s results without considering their performance over the full 90 minutes. This was a particular frustration following Lazio’s 1-0 loss to Bologna at the weekend.
“At this moment in time, everyone only seems to comment on the result. So why watch the match if you only care about the result? In Bologna we played a great game for 75 minutes, but supposedly we didn’t put in enough work in training.”
Sarri also suggested that his attacking unit haven’t quite found the same goalscoring form as they had done in the 2022-23 season.
“Our attackers had a total of 16 goals at this point in the season last year, this year they have five or six and that is costing us. I don’t understand why this is happening, we play the same way.
“Sometimes we fail to create dangerous attacks, even though we create the situations for it.
On whether there could be a tactical change to amend that, Sarri responded: “We must pay attention to the balance. Kamada is an exceptional player, but it is difficult with him and Luis Alberto together, we should find a way to support them.”
Then, on his expectations for Lazio in the Champions League, Sarri said: “If we have a chance to return to Europe, it will be through the league.
“Playing in the Champions League is amazing, we must play with determination, but we must have the clarity to think about everything else as well. Whoever doesn’t qualify for the Champions League will be in trouble.
“The Champions League is like a party, but the league is our job.”