Sarri: "I Was Dissatisfied With Our First-Half Performance And Expected A Stronger Attitude From Us. There Was A Noticeable Contrast In The Overall Team Mentality."

On Wednesday (25/10), the De Kuip Stadium played host to the third matchday of the UCL between Feyenoord and Lazio, in which the latter was defeated 3-1. Maurizio Sarri, the Italian coach of Lazio, was not pleased with the team's performance, particularly their attitude on the field. Sarri believed that their attitude could not sustain their participation in this prestigious European competition for much longer.

Lazio is well aware that their upcoming visit to De Kuip will prove to be a challenging match. This is due in part to their defeat at the hands of Feyenoord in the previous season's Europa League. Both Mattia Zaccagni and Pedro acknowledged the need for a shift in mentality, particularly in matches that have a sluggish pace, such as those in the Champions League. Their coach also concurred with this evaluation.

Speaking to Sky Sport Italia, Sarri remarked that the team's performance in the first half was lackadaisical and sluggish. They were overawed by the opponent's tenacity and were unable to keep up with their pace. Although they conceded the first goal through an aerial tussle, they were not at fault for the second.

"In the end, the statistical difference between the two teams wasn't significant. I was dissatisfied with our first-half performance and expected a stronger attitude from us."

"I noticed that we seemed hesitant to handle the ball, displaying signs of apprehension and making errors. There was a noticeable contrast in the overall team mentality. Furthermore, it was evident that Feyenoord had several players blessed with remarkable speed, a quality we lacked."

Nicolo Casale completely misplaced a pass in midfield which led to a counter-attack on one goal, while the opposition players were usually left in wide areas.

"We have much work ahead of us; pressing with such intensity appears futile. We allowed them to dictate the game, but in the final 25 to 30 minutes, we managed to outperform them."