Maurizio Sarri hints he is prepared to walk away from Lazio if he is ‘no longer in sync with the project’ and President Claudio Lotito, amid a flu outbreak affecting choices against Milan.
It kicks off at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT).
However, it’s going to feel more like an away fixture for the Biancocelesti, because the ultras are on strike in a protest against high ticket prices, especially in comparison to rivals Roma, who share the same stadium.
“I don’t know the details, it’s not something I can judge,” said Sarri in his press conference, notably refusing to align himself with the club or President Lotito.
With that in mind, the coach also gave a very vague answer when asked about his future and the contract extension that has seemingly been drawn up for months and never signed.
“The contract doesn’t matter, only the words of the President. I could have a 10-year contract, but if I am no longer in sync with the project and the environment, I won’t stay. It could also be vice-versa, I can have a month left on my contract, but the extreme desire to remain at all costs, because I am in sync with everything.”
Will the position Lazio end up in the table be the way to judge Sarri’s work?
“It would be more worrying if we finished fifth and didn’t feel like we’d created something rather than ending up in eighth place and aware we’d laid the foundations for the future.”
There are some big question marks over fitness levels and the starting XI, because Lazio were hit by an influenza outbreak at the training ground, though it does not appear to be COVID.
“These situations do not help. We had eight players with flu this week all at the same time. We’ll see who we can recover. Sergej Milinkovic-Savic is in better shape than the others who were ill, as many had relapses. We’ll have a clearer idea tomorrow on who is available.”
Lazio have already suffered heavy defeats to Milan this season in both Serie A and the Coppa Italia, failing to find the net.
“Milan are a very strong team and they concede a limited number of goals. There was a clear distance between the teams when we met, we’ll see if we can whittle that down and hopefully tomorrow will be a different match entirely.
“We picked up 24 points in the last 12 games, 13 in the last six. We got some things wrong against Torino, but the team overall is improving. Let’s also not forget Toro drew with Milan and Juventus, so they can do it with us.
“We’re at a stage of the season now where every game is both a risk and an opportunity. Lazio are not challenging at the very top, but that’s hardly a new development, as in the last seven or eight years, Lazio only qualified for the Champions League once. That was when Inter and Milan were struggling, so now they are back it becomes even more complicated.”
Dal futuro alle condizioni di alcuni singoli, le parole di #Sarri in conferenza alla vigilia di #LazioMilan https://t.co/6bvU498Am4
— Gianluca Di Marzio (@DiMarzio) April 23, 2022