Lazio, Sarri calls for calmer refereeing after Milan clash | OneFootball

Two days before the new clash between Milan and Lazio, who meet again in the Coppa Italia after the heated finale at San Siro, Maurizio Sarri revisits the controversy regarding the penalty awarded to the Rossoneri in the league match.

Lazio, Sarri raises his voice after Milan-Lazio: “More calm is needed in refereeing decisions”

The Biancoceleste coach, who remained silent after the match, chose Sportmediaset to address the issue, with firm tones but without fueling unnecessary tensions.

His words are also set against the backdrop of recent statements by referee designator Gianluca Rocchi, who commented on the Pavlovic-Marusic incident, clarifying: “It deserved a 15-second check. It’s not a penalty, the correct decision was a corner kick.”

“The VAR must be protected. The referee must decide calmly”

Sarri explained precisely what did not convince him about the incident and the atmosphere in which it developed: “We need to reset everything and focus on the next match, without clinging to alleged refereeing influences. However, a suggestion comes naturally to me: let’s place the VAR stations on the opposite side of the benches. The referee must make decisions with a different calmness than what I’ve seen.”

An analysis that does not seek excuses but invites reflection on increasingly delicate dynamics in modern football: monitor positioning, bench pressure, review times, decision-making standards.

When asked about the possibility of playing with a spirit of revenge, Sarri cuts it short: “Revenge? We need anything but a nervous match. We must play for our objectives.”

Lazio, physical fatigue and few margins: “It’s a complicated phase, substitutions will count”

The coach then analyzes the team’s moment, which is struggling with a tight schedule and some incomplete returns: “In the first half at San Siro, we did very well. After conceding the goal, we faltered. In this phase, playing three matches a week is a problem: there are players coming back from a 50-day stop, like Castellanos. It’s a delicate phase, and the five substitutions can be used up quickly.”

Sarri clearly identifies the season’s priority: building rather than chasing the standings. “This season we have no ambitions for the standings. We must be honest: it will serve us to grow and create a foundation to improve and become competitive again.”

Milan and Coppa Italia: “For 90 minutes like in the first half? I’d sign up immediately”

Looking at the Coppa Italia clash, Sarri warns his team about an opponent that can strike in multiple ways: “If we repeat what we did in the first half for 90 minutes, that’s fine. We can’t think of completely nullifying Milan’s threat.”

He reiterates a well-known stance on the tournament: “The Coppa Italia? It’s a format I don’t like. We will approach it round by round, without long-term plans.”

The Biancoceleste market: “In January, everything is to be understood. The decisive session will be the summer one”

The conclusion is dedicated to planning: “We’ll see if there will really be a market in January, if someone will be available or not. For us, the June session will be decisive. I’ve said what might be missing in terms of roles and quality, but identifying the names is up to the club.”

Sarri then downplays any possible polemical interpretation: “Saying what we lack also means saying who should leave, and at this moment, we can’t afford to lose anyone. Let’s leave these things aside as they would only harm us.”

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.