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On the eve of Lazio-Roma, the Biancocelesti coach Maurizio Sarri spoke at a press conference to present the derby against the Giallorossi.

Below is an excerpt of the words of the Lazio coach ahead of the derby against Roma. The Biancocelesti team, like the Giallorossi, is seeking redemption after the defeat at home to Sassuolo last matchday, which has raised doubts and concerns in the Roman environment.

Lazio, Sarri’s words

What are your emotions? How is the team?
“The emotions remain the same: it’s a special, highly emotional match. I believe it’s one of the most intense and followed derbies in the world, and inevitably the adrenaline is very high. Regarding the injured players, we will see: Castellanos seems recoverable, Rovella will be evaluated today. The other injured players remain out, except maybe Patric, who trained partially with the team yesterday. He could be on the bench, more as a symbolic presence than a real one”.

How is Dele-Bashiru?
“The tests were negative, today he should train regularly and be available”.

Sacchi claims that Roma is physically ahead…
“Gasperini’s teams are always very physical and aggressive, so his analysis is correct. To counter this level of intensity, a very high technical level is needed”.

Is Roma the favorite in your opinion?
“I don’t care who is the favorite. The derby is a challenge between two peoples who hate each other sportingly, and my only thought is that my team fights for its own people. We expect 95-100 very tough minutes, with high temperatures. The only goal is to fight, I don’t care about anything else”.

What do you specifically ask of your team?
“On Sunday, the opponents expected a low block and we struggled to find spaces. The feeling was that we had the game under control, but it seemed like the team was just doing the bare minimum instead of trying to win the duels. I asked for more courage, more verticality, because our characteristics are to attack spaces, not to pass too wide”.

How is experiencing the derby? Do you remember the one you lost? Do you envy Gasperini who is only at his first?
“The emotional impact as soon as you step onto the field is enormous. I played six derbies, lost one, and it’s the only one I remember well. In the following days, you feel discomfort and infinite sadness, almost shame. This makes you understand what the derby is: if you don’t give your all, you risk disappointing heavily. For me, the derby is played only to win, and it must be imprinted in the mind and heart”.

Will Pedro start or be a weapon off the bench?
“He will definitely play, I don’t know if from the start or coming on during the match. He is a fundamental player, he has always had an impact in these matches. We will see how to manage him”.

What do you think of the 12:30 kickoff time? Are you and Gasperini added values?
“If it were up to us, Gasperini and I would have won many championships, but it doesn’t work like that. We have known each other for over 20 years and I deeply respect him, both as a coach and as a man. But tomorrow is the derby, and we will be opponents”.

Can the derby spark Lazio?
“So far we have had ups and downs: very bad in Como, good in Verona, organized in Sassuolo. Tactically we had a good game, but we lacked continuity and offensive quality. We conceded too much on set pieces, and this is a mistake to correct”.

Are your emotions the same as in your first experience at Lazio?
“Perhaps even stronger. Over time, the attachment grows, as does the responsibility. The emotional intensity is very high”.

You seem to not have clear ideas…
“The ideas are very clear. The team is organized and compact, but lacks a bit of quality. That was the main objective: to provide solidity. The quality will come, it takes time”.

Modric is a leader, what about Pedro?
“Pedro has a different role, he has to manage the intensity. He has suffered a bilateral tendinitis and we have managed him with caution. He cannot play 90 minutes at the start of the season, but he remains fundamental”.

In what aspects is Lazio stronger than Roma? What do you want to see tomorrow?
“I want to see the team replicate in the match what it does in training. In training, we have more rhythm and intensity compared to the game. This means that in the match, we are holding back. We need to be stronger in character”.

How does the preparation change when playing at 12:30?
“The rhythms will be high, but for me, the time is a defeat for football and the institutions. It’s a choice that creates difficulties for everyone. However, tomorrow we shouldn’t care: we must only think about fighting”.

MATTIA ZACCAGNI OK SIGN (PHOTO BY SALVATORE FORNELLI)

How do you see Zaccagni?
“He is growing after the summer intervention. In terms of maturity, he has improved a lot and slowly can become an important captain”.

What have you found in the Lazio fans?
“The majority of Lazio fans are patient, united by an immense love for the shirt. It is a visceral attachment that I have only seen here and in Naples. It would be crucial to transmit this sense of belonging to the team as well”.

How is Rovella? And Isaksen and Vecino?
“We will evaluate Rovella today: yesterday he did very little and was still in pain. Vecino is working separately, I hope he will return next week. Isaksen had ankle and health problems, his recovery will take time”.

Will Dele-Bashiru start?
“We will see, I never complain about absentees: if one doesn’t play, another one will”.

Should we expect an open or slower match?
“It could be influenced by the heat and become slower, or very tactical. We must prepare for both possibilities”.