Maurizio Sarri, the head coach of Lazio, has stressed the paramount importance of his team’s mental fortitude heading into the Coppa Italia final against Serie A champions Inter Milan. Following a decisive 3-0 league defeat to Inter over the weekend, Sarri declared that tactical approaches would be rendered ineffective if Lazio fails to adopt a changed mentality.
Lazio, currently ninth in Serie A, is set to face the recently crowned league champions, Inter, in the Coppa Italia final. To reach this stage, Sarri’s squad overcame Milan, Bologna, and Atalanta, with the latter two victories secured through penalty shootouts. Inter, on the other hand, progressed by defeating Venezia, Torino, and Como.
Given their contrasting league positions, Inter was already considered the favorite, a status further cemented by their weekend league victory over Lazio. In his pre-match press conference, Sarri candidly described his team’s performance on Saturday as “sh**” and indicated uncertainty regarding his starting lineup due to the poor showing.
The availability of Danilo Cataldi is also in doubt, as he only recently returned to training on the eve of the final. Sarri commented on Cataldi’s situation, stating, “Cataldi did his first training session with us this morning, he’s doing a little better in terms of the injury. Medical conditions are one thing, but physical availability is another. He hasn’t trained for the last month, he can’t do a long shift.”
Reflecting on the team’s overall performance, Sarri admitted, “I have eight or nine doubts after Saturday’s game. We did so badly that there is no need to look at individual performances. We conceded the game, a sh** performance and the same result.”
Despite the setback, Sarri hopes that the team’s previous performance was a mere mental lapse and anticipates seeing a team with a fundamentally different approach. “There’s no particular work or training you can do in just a few days, we have to hope that what we saw on Saturday is just a mental thing. We hope to see a team with a different mental approach and therefore a completely different team.”
Sarri expressed pride in his team’s resilience throughout the season, especially considering their cup run and the intermittent absence of fan support. “I’m proud of the team’s attitude more than anything. They made a few mistakes but haven’t given up this season. The biggest motivation for tomorrow’s game is the team itself, they deserve to win this final after a great journey. The team crossed the desert with no water and that is a source of satisfaction.” He added, “We look different compared to the start of the season and I think we’re a different team for the better. We can be poor as coaches and players, but not as people.”
Looking back, Sarri has experienced cup final defeats, including a loss with Juventus in 2019 and a notable EFL Cup final with Chelsea in the same year, which he considers the most regrettable of his career. “I’ve already lost two national cup competitions on penalties, in England, even after seven penalties, and that’s the one I regret the most. In the 120 minutes, we deserved more against a team like Manchester City.”
Sarri downplayed personal satisfaction from winning the Coppa Italia, emphasizing his desire for the team and supporters to achieve the victory. “This is a trophy that belongs to the players and the supporters. It’s true that we’ve played in an empty stadium this season, but even for (the fans), it can’t have been easy not coming to the stadium. Personally, after a long career behind me, I think this trophy won’t change my life, but it would be nice for the players and for the fans.”
He also acknowledged the difficulty in finding the right motivational words for his players on the eve of a final. “After lunch today, I was preparing for tonight’s meeting and I was struggling to find the right words. It’s a very clear game to prepare for, any words are just rhetoric. That’s difficult for me and for the team. We need humility, courage, and to forget about Saturday’s game. Any words I say in a meeting tonight are almost unnecessary, I consider it a useless meeting. The guys already know what it takes. They have to believe in it, believe in it to the point of madness.”
Lazio will hope for an impact from Pedro, who has a strong record in cup finals, although he is expected to feature from the bench. “Pedro was bruised until this morning. He did part of today’s training and will make himself available. He’s usually a specialist in these sorts of games, he’s scored in 80% of the finals he’s played in and he gives everything. We hope he does it tomorrow as well, but he’s had bruising and he’s only ready for part of the game.”
Regarding Inter’s coach Cristian Chivu, who is aiming for a domestic double, Sarri commented, “He’s had good personality in his approach. Obviously they have a very strong team but I think they’ve made the most of it in the right way. Leading a strong team when they should be winning is important. Inter were clearly the strongest team this year.”
Sarri reiterated his primary concern: the team’s mentality. “If the mental attitude is the same as it was on Saturday, then tactics count for nothing. If you defend with your eyes without challenging for the ball, there are no tactics to take into consideration. We’ve prepared differently, we will see if it will work or not, but it depends on the mental side of things.”
Finally, he touched upon the impact of playing without fans. “Warming up recently has definitely been a bit depressing. From this point of view, it can definitely help the team. As I’ve always answered to this question, I don’t know how much it has cost us (financially) not having the fans, but it has definitely cost us points.”