Sarri Responds to Lotito, Hints at Lazio Farewell: ”I Kept My Word”

Lazio head coach Maurizio Sarri took the opportunity to slam Claudio Lotito and the club’s hierarchy, perhaps one last time before he leaves the club.

Maurizio Sarri Explains What Lazio Means to Him

On Saturday, the Biancocelesti wrapped up a troublesome campaign with a slender win over bottom-of-the-table Pisa at a virtually empty Stadio Olimpico. Over the past few days, reliable sources have been tipping Sarri to leave the club and sign for Atalanta in the coming days.

Nevertheless, the 67-year-old highlighted the special bond he shares with the Biancocelesti fanbase in his post-match press conference via Il Messaggero.

When you get to know what these people are really like, you realise that from the outside they’re burdened with stupid and false labels. They are a wonderful people, I fell in love with them. I always try to immerse myself in the reality of the people I go to represent. The environments where this happened to me most strongly were Naples and Lazio. I’ll keep the Lazio people in my heart, always and no matter what. At this moment the Lazio people are living through this phase, but the hardest moments come to an end. I hope the joys arrive soon. I made a commitment to my people and I kept it.

Sarri Defends Lazio Players After Lotito Outburst

Sarri once again explained how he felt cast aside in the decision-making process, while responding to Lotito, who launched an X-rated rant against the players, claiming they looked frightened in the Coppa Italia final against Inter Milan.

I felt very little from inside the club, I felt barely listened to. The season was extremely difficult and educational; I would have preferred to experience it at 40 years old, not now. On the players, I think differently from the president. I told the lads they were not the strongest group I’ve coached, but one of the groups with the highest moral values. Tonight’s match is the reflection of the season: we started with nine absentees and then two more players got injured. The latest comments leave me indifferent because nobody knows this group the way I do. I certainly don’t let myself be influenced by third-party judgments. When you evaluate the situation, it’s the sum of events that leads you to make a decision.

Transfer Market Disappointments

The former Napoli and Chelsea boss also revealed he was promised important January signings after the transfer ban, but was left disappointed with the outcome.

I had been told that once the transfer ban/closed market situation was over, there would be an important January transfer window in which I would have the ability to influence things, but it didn’t go that way. It was a season in which I even enjoyed myself during the week. It’s clear, though, that the team wasn’t competitive for Europe. But I don’t regret coming back.

Sarri Expects Agreement with Lotito on Contract Termination

The manager was asked if he should have been more vigorous in his requests, but he believes it wouldn’t have changed much, while admitting that his time at Lazio is drawing to an inevitable end.

At Formello, you can bang your fists as much as you want, nobody listens to you anyway. I still have two years left on my contract. I have serious doubts, just as maybe the president has his own. We’ll see what happens. I’ll meet president Claudio Lotito : if I have to leave, let it be a quick agreement. If it has to drag on, then it’s better to respect the contract in place.

Sarri Hails Pedro After Lazio Farewell

Finally, Sarri was asked why Lazio coaches have all chosen to resign in recent years, but preferred to focus on Saturday’s action, hailing the departing Pedro.

You’re asking me questions that have nothing to do with the game. We played a good match but above all, Pedro’s goal on his farewell night makes this evening even more special. Pedro Rodríguez has won everything; as soon as the ball starts rolling he has the enthusiasm of a child. He loves this sport and has extraordinary humility. After the match he told us it was an honour for him to end his career with us. I can’t know why the other coaches resigned. I imagine their reasons were the same as mine.