Sarri: ‘Lazio 90% ahead? I hope Petrescu is right, but that’s not the case’

From our correspondent Nicola Berardino

February 22nd
– Cluj (Romania)

Maurizio Sarri does not block the qualification percentages proposed by Dan Petrescu. The Cluj coach anticipated: “90% goes to Lazio, 10% for us”. Starting from the 1-0 of the biancocelesti at the Olimpico.

“I hope Petrescu’s are right, but I don’t think so”, explains the Lazio coach on the eve of the match in Cluj which is giving away the passage to the round of 16 of the Conference League. Petrescu has also classified Lazio as favorites to win the trophy. “Not at the moment – ​​replies Sarri -. We show up with many absences and we are in difficulty. It’s not an alibi for us, but it’s one more difficulty added to the others. We have to take the game on our side. They are more physical and more accustomed to certain races. We must not play superficially a game that must be faced in the right way. There are strong teams in the Conference, such as West Ham who are of a very high level despite their Premier League standings. And there is also Villarreal. Let’s think about passing the round which is not obvious before thinking about winning the Conference … “.

EMERGENCY

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The point on the absences in the away game in Romania. “We are not talking about injuries but also about seasonal ailments – explains the Captain -. Today Milinkovic returned to Formello in unpresentable conditions (after gastrointestinal problems, ed) . He didn’t workout but only at the gym. Zaccagni also has a high fever, Romagnoli is on the mend. Radu hasn’t checked yet. Pedro should have a checkup tonight and hopefully the removal of the tampons (after nose surgery, ed). If the mask is made on him he can go back to training. Marcos Antonio had a similar problem to Milinkovic but with a ratio of one to ten…”. And Patric must also be added to the list, disqualified after being sent off a week ago at the Olimpico. In total, five are unavailable (Radu is not on the UEFA list).

CHOICES

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A formation to revisit starting from the changes in midfield? “I don’t even remember who played on Sunday … Some yes, certainly not all three”, Sarri’s pretactic In the median, Basic’s probable novelty. Forward, space for Cancellieri: in defense, Lazzari returns with Gila raised. Between the posts, Maximiano is back, as in the first leg. “If I expect something important from someone who has played little, I would have made him play more. Things have to be demonstrated every day in training. We are labeled as those who make little turnover but in the last three games we have had 21 players play…”.

PROBLEMS

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Pawson’s management a week ago extended the list of unhappy referees for Lazio. Sarri observes: “Level refereeing? I always expect it. Often at the end of the game I find myself forced to say that it is not so. I don’t worry a priori about the referees. I don’t even know what nationality tomorrow’s referee is (Zwayer, Germany, ed). I always expect it to go well, sometimes I get disappointed.” Lazio in trouble in European away matches? “We have some defects that come out more in Europe than in Italy. In the Cups, if you take the wrong approach, you lose with everyone”. A look at Radulescu’s land. “It’s not that you can make excesses of criticism given ours, however… I saw the games played here a fortnight ago and there was snow and ice – concludes Sarri -. The field suffered. It is not of the highest level, but I expected worse…”.

LAZZARI

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From the first minute it will be Manuel Lazzari’s turn after the match at the Olimpico. While in the league following his suspension against Sassuolo, he started on the bench for five games in a row. “Physically I’m very well – explains the right-back -. I haven’t played in the last few games due to a technical choice, but I’m available to the team. Physically, I spend a lot. I really like to push but the defensive phase is very important for a full-back. On a mental level we must not miss the game. We have seen what happened in Denmark (1-5 with Midtjylland, ed). With Cluj it will be a battle. The 1-0 in the first leg counts for nothing. Absences are not an alibi. We have players able to replace the unavailable. Lazio favorite to win the Conference? “There is no favourite. There are many strong teams that can aspire to the final victory: like West Ham, Villarreal, Fiorentina. We’ll think about going through first.”