Sarri: ‘No point in tactics’ if Lazio don’t change mentality in Coppa Italia final

Maurizio Sarri says that his players need to focus on their mental approach to Wednesday evening’s Coppa Italia final against Serie A champions Inter, who beat the Biancocelesti 3-0 in the league on Saturday: “If the mental attitude is the same as it was on Saturday, then tactics count for nothing.”

Underdogs Lazio, ninth in Serie A, are preparing to take on recently-crowned Serie A champions Inter in Wednesday evening’s Coppa Italia final. Sarri’s side have defeated Milan, Bologna and Atalanta, the latter two on penalties, in order to qualify for tomorrow’s final, while the Nerazzurri have overcome Venezia, Torino and Como over the course of the season.

Given the respective league positions of the two Coppa Italia finalists, Inter were already the clear favourites, and that was only solidified when the Nerazzurri beat the Biancocelesti 3-0 in Serie A over the weekend.

Sarri, speaking in his pre-match press conference on Tuesday evening, admitted his side put in a ‘sh**’ performance on Saturday, and says that he has several doubts about his starting line-up as a result.

There are also doubts about the availability of Danilo Cataldi, who has only returned to training on the eve of the final.

“Cataldi did his first training session with us this morning, he’s doing a little better in terms of the injury,” Sarri told the media during his pre-match press conference. “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.

“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.

“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.”

Despite his frustration at Saturday’s performance, Sarri says that he is proud of the resilience his team have shown over the course of the season, especially in the cup and in the absence of their protesting supporters at various stages of the season.

“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.

“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.”

Sarri has lost two cup finals previously, once in Italy with Juventus in 2019, and once in the EFL Cup final with Chelsea in 2019 in a game that became infamous for a misunderstanding with goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, who appeared to ‘refuse’ to come off towards the end of extra-time. Sarri says that the cup final defeat with Chelsea is the biggest sore-point 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 claims that he isn’t too fussed about winning the Coppa Italia on a personal level, but says that he wants his team to win for themselves and for the club’s supporters.

“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.”

Sarri also admitted that it is difficult to find the right words to motivate his players on the eve of a cup 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.”