“Inter Milan Weren’t Extraordinary” – Sarri Rues ‘Soft’ Lazio & ‘Humiliating’ Atmosphere

Nothing from today’s match should remain with us. Inter weren’t even extraordinary and they didn’t even push at full throttle. We paid for a dreadful approach — soft and passive. We needed to be aggressive, attack spaces in possession the way we did when we were down to ten men.  It was more our fault than the opponents’ merit. Lautaro’s goal was part of our overall approach. We conceded with two opponents inside our penalty area. Usually Inter bring four or five there. The second goal came after five consecutive passes inside our own box without any response from us. With that kind of approach, we concede in the first half hour against every Serie A team.

Lazio Lacked Self-Belief

The 67-year-old admitted that he and his men didn’t genuinely believe they could catch Atalanta in seventh place. La Dea started the weekend four points ahead.

It’s not about changing mentality. Today’s approach was the result of a match people thought meant nothing, but the huge mistake was believing it didn’t matter. We had only a small chance of reaching seventh place, but that chance existed. A game like this creates major problems, because concern can turn into fear, and that can paralyze you. I hope my players want to prove they are not the team we saw today.

Sarri Irritated by Stadio Olimpico Atmosphere with Inter Milan Taking Over

With the Lazio organized fan groups still on strike, the ambience was dominated by the enchanted Inter Milan supporters, who moved their Scudetto party to the Stadio Olimpico, much to Sarri’s dismay.

It was humiliating to hear only the Inter fans in our own stadium. I hope our people make themselves heard on Wednesday (when they return to the stands for the cup final).

Can Lazio Upset Inter Milan in the Coppa Italia Final?

Despite the heavy defeat, the Lazio head coach believes the Coppa Italia final will have a different outcome, as he expects a much better version of his team, even though Inter remain the obvious favorites.

Three days ago I stopped training because I noticed the defensive intensity wasn’t what it used to be. I already had some warning signs of this defensive softness. We’ll have a different approach, but technically Inter are still superior.

Alessio Romagnoli’s Red Card

Romagnoli saw red in the second period as he came lunging into Yoan Bonny with his studs showing. The referee initially felt that a yellow card would suffice, but he decided to upgrade the punishment following a VAR review. Sarri felt the decision was too harsh on the defender, at least based on the real-time dynamics.

It was a VAR red card, not one from the on-field dynamic. I saw the images on the monitor: they showed the foot on the calf, and the referee couldn’t do anything but send him off. In real time, it’s a yellow-card foul. In the VAR era, we also have to accept this.