Lazio manager Maurizio Sarri has firmly dismissed speculation linking him with a return to Napoli, labeling such talk as "Fantacalcio" or fantasy football. The comments came after his side's dramatic 3-3 Serie A draw with Udinese at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday. Sarri was speaking to Sky Sport in the aftermath of a match he described as a tough contest, admitting his team started slowly before showing character to recover.
Analysing the performance, Sarri pointed to signs of growth within his squad, despite many players lacking full match fitness. "Something more is starting to be seen, even if many of the returning players did not have 90 minutes in their legs," he said. The former Chelsea and Juventus coach also highlighted the performance of goalkeeper Christos Mandas, who started in place of the injured Ivan Provedel. Sarri expressed his initial disappointment when the club sold previous deputy Thomas Strakosha but acknowledged the club's fortune in finding a talent of Mandas's level, while urging the Greek international to keep his feet on the ground.
The draw leaves Lazio in the mid-table region of Serie A as they continue to adapt to Sarri's methods in his first season at the helm. The focus for the club remains on consolidating a European challenge, with the January transfer window now closed. Sarri's commitment to the project in Rome appears clear following his blunt rebuttal of the Napoli rumors, which have circulated following a difficult period for the reigning champions under Rudi Garcia.
Udinese coach Kosta Runjaic, meanwhile, expressed his satisfaction with a point earned in the capital, joking that he approached Sarri after the final whistle to ask for a cigarette due to the stressful nature of the encounter. Speaking to DAZN, the German coach reflected on his team's performance without the injured key striker Brenner, praising the contributions of forwards Florian Bayo, Robert Bozenik, and Oumar Gueye in his absence.
Runjaic also reflected on his own adaptation to Italian football in his debut season, stating he has come to know Serie A much better. He highlighted the development of several players within his squad, including Beto, Lazar Samardzic, and Destiny Udogie, as positive signs for the Friuli-based club. While acknowledging his team could have taken more points this season, Runjaic emphasized a policy of remaining calm and happy as they look to climb away from the lower reaches of the table. Both sides now look ahead to their next fixtures, with Lazio seeking greater consistency and Udinese aiming to build on a resilient display.
