The Derby day is the only game ahead of which both Roma coach Jose Mourinho and Lazio manager Maurizio Sarri are cool. Maybe other coaches have sleepless nights ahead of their meeting with a bitter rival, but not the Portuguese and the Italian. They both have their reasons for being totally relaxed about it, as one of the greatest Italian and worldwide derbies will be held today in the “Eternal” city of Rome. Ahead of the 155th Rome Derby in Serie A history (177th overall), Lazio may have recorded only 39 wins to Roma’s 55, but remain unbeaten in their last four league derbies as ’host’ (they both share the same stadium). Furthermore, Lazio are unbeaten in their last 15 home games in the Italian top flight, a fact which may help confidence in the camp after a sticky spell of late.🔥 Emozioni da #LazioRoma… 🔥#ASRoma pic.twitter.com/COokXGcPY0— AS Roma (@OfficialASRoma) September 25, 2021 But no matter what, Mourinho is relaxed. First, because this will be his 120th derby match as a coach (Chelsea – West Ham, Real – Barcelona, Manchester United – City, Inter – Milan to name a few), and second, he won’t have to give any pep talks to his players ahead of the match.„These are the games that a coach doesn’t have to worry about. They don’t have to worry about them because there is no need to find a way to motivate your players. You don’t need to make sure your players are correctly focused. So they are great games to play in, but they are great games to prepare for too. There are no problems to worry about. I think the most important thing is to talk less and play more. You can talk a lot before the game, but then your words can all float away on the wind. Why do you need to talk? That’s what experience has told me“ said Mourino at the press conference.The stupidest own goal you’ll probably see before the New YearAnd despite the fact that Lazio – Roma is regarded as one of the top 10 rivalries in the world, Lazio coach will list a different derby as his favorite.“What the media get wrong is thinking that media pressure is the same as the pressure a person feels. The game where I felt the most pressure was Sangiovannese-Montevarchi in Serie C, a rivalry that stretched for centuries and even caused some deaths after the war, I was told. It is certainly a big game and one that makes you feel butterflies in your stomach, you can feel that sensation. It is not a normal match, it is something much more than that. It’s a pleasure to be a part of it and I would love for us to play it at 110 per cent of our potential. Roma are a strong team, it is one of the most important fixtures in European football and it is an honour to be part of it. All children, the way I did, watched Lazio-Roma or listened to it on the radio and dreamed of playing it. Now here we are, so let’s play” noted Sarri in his press conference.Così nobile, pura ed immensa.𝙄𝙡 𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙘𝙞𝙤 𝙖 𝙍𝙤𝙢𝙖 𝙨𝙞 𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙖𝙢𝙖 #𝙎𝙎𝙇𝙖𝙯𝙞𝙤 ⚪️🔵 pic.twitter.com/647Qd1je2L— S.S.Lazio (@OfficialSSLazio) September 24, 2021 The rivalry between two clubs is so intense, that it was written that Lazio fans asked their players to lose against Mourinho’s Inter in 2009 in order to prevent Roma winning the title. Inter did won 2-0 and eventually won the title, but the Portuguese downplayed the story.„Rivalry is a great thing. 100%. If you are the Real Madrid coach, and Barcelona aren’t going to win the league, then surely Barca fans want Atletico Madrid to win the title. If you are in Portugal and are the Porto coach, then Benfica will surely want anyone else to win the league other than Porto. That’s normal in a rivalry, that’s what makes it great. And that’s why I say that I love playing in derbies“ said Mourinho.In terms of available players, Lazio once again have the advantage, since Roma’s best player and captain Lorenzo Pellegrini is unavailable after receiving a red card last week against Udinese.SERIE A – Round 6SaturdaySpezia – Milan 1-2 (0-0)/Verde 80 – Maldini 48, Diaz 86/Inter – Atalanta 2-2 (1-2)/Martinez 5, Dzeko 71 – Malinovskyi 30, Toloi 38/21.45: (2.85) Genoa (3.20) Verona (2.75)Sunday13.30: (1.40) Juventus (4.90) Sampdoria (9.00)16.00: (1.43) Sassuolo (4.70) Salernitana (8.50)16.00: (2.95) Udinese (3.20) Fiorentina (2.65)16.00: (2.70) Empoli (3.35) Bologna (2.80)19.00: (2.70) Lazio (3.35) Roma (2.80)21.45: (1.27) Napoli (6.75) Cagliari (11.0)Monday21.45: (3.60) Venezia (3.35) Torino (2.20)***odds are subject to change
