Sarri: "This Will Be A Year Of Ups And Downs. Anyone Who Didn’t Expect That Was Naive. Depending On Player Availability, We Might Have To Adjust Formations Again."

During the international break, Maurizio Sarri addressed Lazio fans through the club’s official channels, offering a candid and reflective assessment of his team’s current state. The Italian coach discussed the ongoing injury crisis, tactical adjustments, and the realities of managing a squad stretched thin.

“I had a moment of dizziness, and sometimes I don’t feel entirely pleased to talk,” Sarri admitted at the beginning of his remarks. “We must stay rational, understand what has happened to us and what lies ahead. It’s important to stay detached from outside noise and focus on our internal strength.”

He emphasized the need for realism over emotion. “I don’t want to be either optimistic or pessimistic, but realistic. We could have won certain matches and instead lost in the final moments. The positive side is our character; despite adversity, we fought back in difficult situations.”

Sarri went on to describe Lazio’s extensive injury list. “We are missing eight or nine players. Every team reinforced themselves over the summer, while we couldn’t do much, and now we’re paying for it,” he said.

He listed several cases: “Vecino has barely played, Rovella has been fit for only one match, Lazzari, Pellegrini, and Marusic have all had problems, Gigot hasn’t trained, Patric has been out, and Romagnoli and Guendouzi were suspended. Rovella’s issue isn’t new, Vecino has been practically unavailable, Isaksen fell ill, and Zaccagni is now injured.”

Despite the difficulties, Sarri praised his players for their attitude. “We asked them not to make excuses, and they didn’t. Basic deserves credit; after being out for a long time, he came back and performed well. We have to see the positives too.”

Sarri highlighted Lazio’s display in the Derby della Capitale as their best of the season. “Our performance against Roma was excellent. Losing hurt us deeply. But I must defend these players, they fought without excuses. The standings could have been better, but we need patience. Everyone knew this would be a challenging start to the season.”

He acknowledged that Serie A has become more competitive. “The overall level of teams has risen. Torino, for example, are now a team on par with us.”

Reflecting on his previous seasons, Sarri noted a stark contrast. “In my third year, we had a real chance to make a big leap in quality after Milinkovic Savic’s departure and our qualification for the Champions League. My frustration back then came from the missed opportunity. This year, I accepted that it would be tough, so I can’t be disappointed. The circumstances are completely different.”

Discussing Lazio’s approach, Sarri explained, “We are adapting our attacking style to fit the players we have. I prefer a possession based team, but this squad is built for quick transitions and counterattacks. We must find balance; scoring two goals means little if we concede three. Depending on player availability, we might have to adjust formations again.”

Providing updates on the injured players, he said, “Lazzari returned last week, Marusic will undergo checks today, Pellegrini has a knee issue, Rovella’s situation is complicated, and Vecino remains a mystery. Dele Bashiru is still out, Isaksen suffered an illness that weakened him for months, and Zaccagni’s condition is still evolving. In two days, we’ll understand what lineup we can field.”

Sarri praised Matteo Cancellieri for his progress. “He’s grown a lot compared to two years ago. He’s more mature and confident. His best qualities emerge when he accelerates and attacks space, not when he’s forced to dribble. If he stays humble and focused, he can improve further.”

He also spoke about Noslin, describing him as a “complex player to position.” “He has the pace of a winger but isn’t exactly one, can act as a second striker but lacks the finesse, and can play as a center forward but isn’t fully suited. He can still be useful in certain contexts, but we need more balance in our setup.”

“I’m not interested in social media or what’s written about me,” Sarri said. “I live football through the street, through the fans I meet, and they understand our difficulties. My 300 matches in Serie A don’t matter to me, what matters is the next one.”

Commenting on the idea of Italian teams playing abroad, Sarri supported Rabiot’s criticism of the Milan vs Como friendly in Australia. “Bringing up the financial aspect was wrong. Football belongs to the players, without them, the league wouldn’t exist.”

He also addressed issues within Italian football. “Our youth leagues play in empty, poor facilities. Then we expect these kids to perform in front of 50,000 at the Olimpico. It’s unrealistic. The idea of B teams destroys the spirit of Serie C football.”

Sarri concluded by setting realistic expectations for the season. “This will be a year of ups and downs. Anyone who didn’t expect that was naive. First, we must recover our injured players and then find consistency. It’s a difficult journey, but patience is essential, something I’ve surprisingly found within myself.”