Sarri Explains Lazio Tactics, Admits Inter Milan Superiority, Fires Derby Warning: ”I’m Not Coming”

Sarri Opens Up on Special Bond with Lazio

While his future remains shrouded in mystery, Sarri took the opportunity to emphasize his special bond with Lazio and its supporters.

There are two or three environments where I integrated so deeply that I became a supporter myself. I have the habit of fully immersing myself in the cities and clubs I grow attached to. For me, feeling like a Laziale is completely natural. In other places I never managed that.

Sarri Urges Lazio to Sign Quality Players

The Tuscan manager also highlighted the need to invest in new players and raise the quality of the squad to compete for European places next season.

We are in a phase where doing well domestically is what matters most. This isn’t the time for unrealistic fantasies. We need to rebuild from a high-level league season. There’s no other way. This group has important mental qualities. But it’s obvious the squad needs more technical quality, there’s no point hiding it. To compete with five or six top Italian teams, we are still lacking quite a lot.

Sarri Threatens to Boycott Roma Derby

Finally, Sarri reiterated his desire not to show up for this weekend’s Derby della Capitale against Roma if the oragnizers insist on scheduling this match on Sunday’s early kickoff.

If it’s played on Sunday, I’m not coming — and if I were the president, I wouldn’t even send the team. We’d take the one-point deduction and leave it at that. Lega Serie A made enormous mistakes, scheduling the Turin derby during the ATP Finals and now the Rome derby during one of the biggest tennis tournaments. The Prefect was clear, and nobody apologized for the mistake.

When Will the Derby della Capitale Be Played?

The Lega Serie A initially scheduled all five Serie A contests involving clubs fighting for European places on Sunday at 12:30. However, the Prefect of Rome refused to authorize this time slot for the Derby, as it overlaps with the final of the Italian Open, which takes place at the nearby Tennis courts, requesting the match to be played on Monday.

The Lega Serie A decided to appeal the decision at the Administrative Court, so the final schedule remains pending.