Sarri: ‘Atalanta deserve fourth place’ | OneFootball

Maurizio Sarri acknowledges Atalanta are the favourites for a top four finish, while Lazio ‘struggled badly’ in Bergamo.

The Aquile saw their hopes of securing Champions League qualification suffer a blow with this evening’s 3-1 defeat.

Mario Pasalic opened the scoring with a chest and volley, then Charles De Ketelaere converted a penalty and drilled between Luca Pellegrini’s legs, as the Ciro Immobile spot-kick was too late to turn things around.

“What happened today is that we faced an Atalanta side in peak physical and mental form, so naturally they are a difficult team to take on,” Sarri told DAZN.

“We struggled to break the press in the first half, but did better in the second, when we had three or four chances to score. Overall, though, Atalanta deserved to win the game.

“There is still a long way to go this season, but these are results that have their significance too. If Atalanta’s current form lasts for another three months, then it’s only right that they qualify for the Champions League.

“A team needs to be in stunning shape to play like that.”

On the other hand, Lazio looked sluggish and have in recent matches really struggled to get any shots on target at all.

“I did not see sharpness or confidence today, I saw a team that struggled badly to emerge from the opposition press,” admitted Sarri.

“For at least 60 minutes we lacked that step, we found it in the last half-hour and it’s a pity we didn’t at least make it 3-2 to balance out the head-to-head record.”

Lazio beat Atalanta 3-2 at the Stadio Olimpico earlier this season and if two teams are level in the table, then head-to-head record is the first criteria to divide them.

This means a 3-1 win gives Atalanta the advantage in this particular race.

“When I talk about this team lacking in horsepower, I am not just talking physically, but also mentally. At times we are lacking in these aspects, even if we are top in many other statistics. I see teams who don’t move as much as we do, but they do it with greater acceleration.”

Lazio sent Toma Basic to Salernitana, but did not bring in a single reinforcement in the January transfer window. Did Sarri expect something more?

“I am not interested in the transfer market, it is not my job and I merely adjust to what happens. I have to think about the team, not the market.”