Sarri: 'Zaccagni Not at 100 Percent, But Lazio Prefers to Start Him'

Maurizio Sarri has shed light on why Mattia Zaccagni was included in Lazio's starting lineup against Fiorentina, even though he is reportedly "not at 100 percent." The coach also addressed the unexpected decision to field Patric in a midfield role.

The match is scheduled to commence at the Stadio Artemio Franchi at 19:45 UK time (20:45 CEST).

There were some notable inclusions in the starting XI for this evening's game. Both Zaccagni and Patric were initially anticipated to be fit only for the substitutes' bench, yet they have been placed directly into the starting lineup.

Sarri Details Lazio's Lineup Choices

"Zaccagni is not yet at 100 percent," Sarri admitted in a conversation with DAZN Italia. "In fact, bringing him on in the second half might have presented us with challenges in managing our substitutions. Therefore, we opted to start him and assess his endurance throughout the match."

Patric, typically a defender, has recently been a primary choice in midfield due to a number of injuries affecting players like Adam Marusic, Daniel Maldini, Ivan Provedel, Mario Gila, Samuel Gigot, and Nicolò Rovella.

"Danilo Cataldi is not in optimal condition," Sarri added. "Consequently, we decided to utilize Patric and allow Cataldi the necessary time for a complete recovery. We hope to have him back next week."

This fixture holds significant importance for Fiorentina. A victory would establish an eight-point cushion over the relegation zone with just six rounds remaining in the season.

"That is of no concern to us," Sarri stated. "Our sole focus must be on continuing our own trajectory, exerting maximum effort until the final whistle of the last game. I trust that the team will demonstrate this same determination this evening."

Sarri is well-known for his passion for cycling. When asked if he managed to watch the prestigious Paris-Roubaix race yesterday, he replied:

"I had a training session in the morning, which was quite demanding with 10 players unavailable. However, I did catch the conclusion of the race while on the train."