Maurizio Sarri expressed his frustration following Lazio’s 2-2 draw with Fiorentina, criticizing both refereeing decisions and his own club’s transfer situation. The match at Stadio Olimpico saw controversial calls and further complications for the coach, who admitted he had hoped Matteo Guendouzi would be a cornerstone of Lazio’s future.
Lazio had previously submitted a formal protest to Lega Serie A regarding refereeing errors, and the match against Fiorentina added fuel to the fire. Mario Gila was denied a first-half penalty after a shirt tug by Marin Pongracic, while VAR intervened later to award a softer penalty when Albert Gudmundsson appeared to make slight contact with Gila.
Despite the controversies, Lazio earned a 2-2 draw with Pedro converting a stoppage-time penalty following Pietro Comuzzo’s foul on Mattia Zaccagni.
Maurizio Sarri Frustrated with Club and Squad Depth
Maurizio Sarri was visibly irritated after the match, addressing both the refereeing and the club’s current squad situation.
“The first half was excellent; we had many scoring opportunities, and it was a pity to go into the break at 0-0,” he said.
He added,
“The lads are frustrated, and I feel pretty annoyed too. We can only have so much influence, so there’s no point wasting energy on it. We need to focus on improving the squad with quality and technique.”
The match also brought further issues, as Toma Basic and Mattia Zaccagni both left the field with muscular injuries.
Guendouzi’s Departure Adds to Sarri’s Woes
Matteo Guendouzi started despite his imminent €28m transfer to Fenerbahce, leaving Maurizio Sarri disappointed.
“I honestly thought Guendouzi was one of the seven or eight players we could use to build the future of Lazio,” he admitted.
“We are a club who cannot offer the same salaries as other sides, so I understand there are difficulties.”
Maurizio Sarri also commented on Petar Ratkov, the new arrival from Red Bull Salzburg.
“I don’t know this player. Those in the club probably know him better than I do, but I’ll try to figure out his strengths, weaknesses, and how to best use him,” the coach said.
Despite mounting frustrations with the club’s strategy since his arrival, Maurizio Sarri reaffirmed his dedication to the Lazio supporters.
“I gave my word to the Lazio fans, so I think I will stay. The transfer window isn’t closed yet, and the club can still do many more things,” he concluded.
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