Why Maurizio Sarri Rebuked Five Lazio Players during Avellino Friendly | OneFootball

Lazio may have registered a slim win in their second friendly of the season against Avellino, but Maurizio Sarri was far from impressed.

Lazio Beat Avellino Thanks to Matteo Guendouzi’s Late Winner

After starting their summer friendly with a 3-0 win over Lazio U20, the Biancocelesti beat the newly-promoted Serie B team on Saturday in a friendly held at the Stadio Benito Stirpe in Frosinone. Matteo Guendouzi scored the solitary goal of the contest from the spot in the 92nd minute.

Maurizio Sarri Unhappy with Several Lazio Stars

Needless to say, Sarri was expecting more from his men, and this was certainly evidenced in the way he reprimanded them throughout the contest. According to Sportitalia (via LazioNews24), the 66-year-old was almost restless on the sidelines, storming out of the dugout on several occasions to voice his displeasure while trying to make the necessary adjustments.

Five Lazio Players Were reprimanded by Sarri

This pattern began early on, with the returning Lazio manager urging his old pupils, Pedro and Matias Vecino, to position themselves higher on the pitch to raise the team’s stance. Sarri wanted his men to impose their will and dominate the action rather than position themselves low on the field.

(Photo by Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images)

At the hour-mark, it was Fisayo Dele-Bashiru’s turn to be on the receiving end of the manager’s rebuke. The Nigerian midfielder was seemingly guilty of failing to make the required runs towards the box and offer his team an extra body in attack.

New Lineup, Same Discontent

Despite changing the entire team in the second half, Sarri was equally unimpressed with his players, or at least some of them. Luca Pellegrin was criticized for being too quick on the ball and also failing to offer his teammates proper support in attack. Finally, Guendouzi was excessively drifting to the left, much to the manager’s dismay.

Tougher Tests Await Lazio

It remains to be seen if the Lazio stars will be more faithful to their manager’s instructions when facing stronger opposition in their next two friendlies in Istanbul against Fenerbahce (July 30) and Galatasaray (August 2).