Bayern and Lazio meet in the Champions League on Tuesday. Little is happening at the Munich team at the moment – but there is also stress at the Serie A club.
If FC Bayern Munich wants to advance in the Champions League on Tuesday evening (from 9 p.m.), Thomas Tuchel’s team must win at home against Lazio Rome. The Serie A club won the first leg of the round of 16 1-0. The omens for Munich in the current situation are anything but good. You meet an old acquaintance and there is unrest internally between the team and the team (you can read more about the division here). But Lazio Rome is also currently struggling – and is in crisis mode.
Lazio is in the semi-finals of the Italian Cup, “Coppa Italia”. However, in the “Supercoppa” the team was eliminated in the semi-finals 0-3 against Inter Milan. However, the team is in ninth place in the league. Not the claim of the current runner-up. The situation in the Champions League is known.
Similar to the Munich team, there is chaos internally at the Italian club. This was triggered by statements from coach Maurizio Sarri. After his team’s defeat against AC Fiorentina (1:2) at the end of February, the coach criticized the club’s transfer policy. Sarri said: “When I asked about player A, they made me choose between C and D. It wasn’t me who decided in the transfer market.”
Sarri frustrated
It is time for “everyone to take responsibility.” With this, Sarri gave the impression that he was venting long-pent-up frustration. He probably wanted to make it clear that the squad was too thin to be competitive at the top level in several competitions at the same time.
With a win in Munich, Sarri’s team would be through to the premier class – but as with FC Bayern, the Italian press is talking about a split in the club.
Separation at the end of the season?
More precisely, between Sarri and club boss Claudio Lotito. As the “Corriere dello Sport” reports, the separation should take place by the end of the season at the latest. Since last July and the dismissal of sporting director Igli Tare, the Lazio boss has also been taking care of transfers.
A point of contention between Sarri and him. Lotito said at the end of January: “Lazio is competitive as it is, Sarri hasn’t asked me for reinforcements.” It is not clear whether Sarri’s statements a month later were in response to Lotito. In any case, the club boss and coach clash again and again.
Fans are calling for the coach to be fired
Fans are already calling for the coach to be kicked out on social media. But that’s not enough. Lazio’s players also suffered a 1-0 defeat in the league last Friday before the big duel with Bayern. What was unusual about it were three red cards for Lazio. Lotito then railed against referee Marco di Bello: “Today there was a lack of respect for the rules.”
Instead of peaceful preparation for the premier class, there was once again excitement. The team could be appeased by the fact that di Bello has now been banned for a month by the Italian referees’ association due to bad decisions. “Gazzetta dello Sport” and Sky Sport Italia report this unanimously. However, this should not change the situation in the club.
Similar to FC Bayern, the game on Tuesday evening also sets the trend for Lazio Rome. No matter who wins, the unrest remains.