Lazio’s season is leading to a bitter end between head coach Maurizio Sarri and president Claudio Lotito. After the loss to Fiorentina, the former Chelsea coach bemoaned poor recruitment on the club’s part while the president sharply told the coach to stop looking for cheap excuses.It was a statement as heavy as a boulder. And it confirms, or rather reaffirms, what – from his perspective – has been the original sin of this season. Sarri uttered it after the game lost to Fiorentina, Lazio’s tenth in this league, likely saying goodbye to their hopes for a Champions League qualification. “The club was clear in July about who they were buying. If I ask for A and you make me choose between C and D, it’s pretty clear.” 🎙️Jorginho’s agent at @tvplayofficial: “I’d see him fitting in well at #Lazio under coach #Sarri, or at #Juve with the director #Giuntoli. #Napoli, with #Calzona, is also a tempting option. Both #Inter and #Milan are formidable clubs, #Roma has never been in the picture” pic.twitter.com/7d66FVJbH7— calciomercato.it (@calciomercatoit) February 28, 2024 There are few words, but they are very meaningful. The coach implies that particular aspirations, certain legitimate expectations, were not met. And that the ups and downs of this season, and the different behaviour of Lazio between the league and cups (1.53 points per game in Serie A, 1.85 in the Champions League), are mainly justified by this. Also, in the “belly” of Fiorentina’s Artemio Franchi stadium, there was another illuminating phrase of Sarri’s thinking.”This is a team that mentally isn’t structured to handle 3-4 competitions.” ‘Street footballer’ and ‘Baby Haaland’ replacing Giroud and Jovic at San Siro?In other words, it would be with a different squad, both qualitatively and quantitatively. A dual indictment by the coach, which, however, cannot (and indeed does not find) the approval of the club. President Claudio Lotito has repeatedly emphasised that the club invested around one hundred million in the summer transfer market. The calculation is “gross” because the owner includes player wages and commissions. But beyond the numbers, the sense is that the club, from its point of view, is convinced they did things well to continue growing after last year’s second-place finish. “The transfer market has nothing to do with the defeat in Florence and the other nine in the league. The squad is strong and competitive. Sarri and the players should take their responsibilities instead of finding excuses.” ##NAJAVA_MECA_7910209##It’s true, desided targets Domenino Berardi and Piotr Zielinski didn’t arrive, but from a coach with Sarri’s curriculum (and salary), an improvement in the acquired players is expected. In previous seasons, this happened, but not this year. The cracks between the coach and the club are evident. Sarri’s position is not in question, but anything is possible at the end of the season, despite the coach having another year on his contract.Of course, much will depend on how this season ends. The Champions League is almost out of reach, but Lazio – even though it won’t be easy given the competition – cannot afford to miss out on qualification for the Europa League or Conference League. And then there are the two cup competitions. Lazio can achieve a historic feat against Bayern in a week in Munich. And in April, there’s the Coppa Italia semifinal with Juventus, a competition that – besides the trophy – offers another opportunity for access to the Europa League next season. Important and prestigious matches and respectable goals are still alive. «La rosa è forte e competitiva. Il mercato non c’entra nulla con la sconfitta contro la Fiorentina e con le altre 9. A fine stagione faremo un bilancio definitivo», ha dichiarato il presidente della Lazio, Claudio Lotito, a Il Messaggero.Ma cosa aveva detto Sarri? Nel… pic.twitter.com/vAI1K6zQlC— Cronache di spogliatoio (@CronacheTweet) February 28, 2024 For this reason, the cracks between Sarri and the club, at least for the moment, won’t explode. But then, at the end of the season, it will be inevitable to look each other in the eyes and understand what’s best for both parties’ future.
