Former Lazio coach Maurizio Sarri spoke about his relationship with the club, his thoughts on Inter’s title and why Roberto De Zerbi should remain in the Premier League. Sarri was speaking in an interview with TV dello Sport and touched on a range of topics, including why he didn’t follow the Nerazzurri’s title charge too closely, as well as his relationship with his former club:
“I Had a Good Relationship with Lotito”
“I had a good relationship with Lotito. He is different from how he appears publicly. He doesn’t interfere with technical decisions. I enjoyed working with him. I might have made different investments, but as I always said: it’s his club, so it’s right that he makes the decisions.”
“I Was Contacted by a Foreign Club”
“I had direct contact with a foreign club. Before accepting, I need to watch at least ten of their matches, but even that might not be enough. I wanted to understand the context. It takes a week or ten days to make evaluations with my staff. Italy will always be Italy. Right now, I have some personal responsibilities. We’ll see.”
“Lazio Fans Are Wonderful”
“The Lazio fans were a pleasant surprise. In Italy, we have a wrong perception of Lazio fans because they are often labeled. At the stadium, you see parents with their children being guided. They are wonderful people.”
“Advice to De Zerbi: Stay in the Premier League”
“I advise De Zerbi to stay in the Premier League. It was a mistake for me to return to Italy; I wouldn’t do it again. The Abramovich-era Chelsea was a place where staying more than a year was difficult, but I would have remained in the orbit of other clubs. Timing is crucial in making decisions. When Nottingham called, I was dealing with a difficult family situation.”
“Gasperini Is an Extraordinary Coach”
“There’s a distinction between the pioneers of a certain playing style and their followers. Gasperini’s man-to-man approach is very refined. The followers often lack this refinement. Gasperini is extraordinary: he plays differently than I do, but it’s beautiful to watch. However, I didn’t like the extreme followers of his style.”
Sarri on Scamacca
“Scamacca is improving a lot. I think he can be among the call-ups and might turn out to be a surprise.”
Sarri on the National Team and Spalletti
“Can Italy win the Euros? We are a good team, but there are thousands of factors to reach the end. You can’t talk about football trends for teams that are together for twenty days. It’s a tournament; we need to see how we arrive physically and mentally. Italian football is heavier, so it’s not always easy to have a clear head. England plays more, so they might be more tired. Spalletti is trying to bring enthusiasm, freshness, and a sense of belonging. He’s doing well.”
Sarri on Italian Coaches
“Our coaches are the best, but that doesn’t mean foreign coaches aren’t good. If we talk about the average level, Italian coaches are slightly superior to those in other countries. It’s a broad statement and doesn’t negate the fact that there are very strong foreign coaches. If I were a president, I would choose an Italian coach and try to have as many Italian players as possible, but clubs think differently.”
Sarri on Inter’s Season
“I followed Inter little. I’ve said before that I like being at clubs where the owner’s face is visible. Inter’s situation seems peculiar, but we’ll have to get used to it. Modern football is becoming like this. Inzaghi’s season was top-notch. Last year they reached a Champions League final, and this year they won the league in the first half. They’re moving well. If the team stays the same, they’ll start a step ahead next year.”
“Napoli Has the Foundations to Rebuild”
“Napoli starts with a strong team. Unfortunately, there are seasons like this. Winning in Naples amplifies everything. The team lost its way, but it’s not fair to say they’ve become poor players. They have the foundations to rebuild a strong team.”
