Sarri jokes next time Lazio should ‘just start with 10 men’ after heroic victory

Maurizio Sarri joked Lazio might just ‘start with 10 men’ next time after beating Parma with two players sent off. ‘We won with 8 against 10 once…’

The Aquile had a very poor away record, so things weren’t looking good for them when Mattia Zaccagni was shown a straight red card for his mistimed lunge on Nahuel Estevez just before half-time.

It got even worse at the 77th minute when Toma Basic was also sent off, this time for elbowing Estevez in the ribs during an off the ball incident.

However, Lazio grabbed the victory when down to nine men against 11 at the Stadio Tardini when Tijjani Noslin robbed a defender, dribbled around the goalkeeper and deposited into an empty net.

“This win can give us enthusiasm, but I think the lads had already begun to believe more from the end of September,” Sarri told DAZN.

“We were two men down today, but if we look at the game overall, the victory is fully deserved. The team is improving both in terms of mentality and the performances on the field.

“I said that I was enjoying myself with this squad and I stand by that. Have I ever won 9 against 11? Actually I was coaching during Entella-Figline when we won with 8 against 10…”

Lazio have received three red cards in the last two games, as Mario Gila was sent off in the 1-1 draw with Bologna.

“We were down to 10 men against Bologna last week and didn’t lose our organisation then either. I saw the same thing today, even if with two players sent off it’s more complicated,” continued Sarri.

“I introduced players off the bench who were suited to these situations. For example, Oliver Provstgaard gave us a big hand.”

The double red card means both Zaccagni and Basic will be suspended for the next Serie A match against Cremonese, but at least Mario Gila will be back, as he sat out a ban today.

Gil Patric also got his first start in nine months and impressed in defence.

“Unfortunately, we’re getting used to these situations. If we’ve got 11 players available, then we’ll start them, otherwise we’ll just start with 10 and save time,” laughed Sarri.

There are some question marks over both the straight red cards, as while Zaccagni’s challenge was very clumsy, he didn’t make full contact on the Nahuel Estevez shin.

“I don’t think he really gets him at all, as he connects with the ankle and not the studs. It feels a bit much. I realise it doesn’t give a good impression seen at full speed, but the red seems harsh.”