Why Maurizio Sarri Decided to Backtrack on Roma Derby Threat

[ASFN Admin]

You must be registered for see images attach

Why Maurizio Sarri Decided to Backtrack on Roma Derby Threat

Lazio head coach Maurizio Sarri will attend the Derby della Capitale clash against Roma as usual, despite threatening not to show up.

Roma & Lazio Timing Caused a Major Stir​

The two capital rivals will clash heads at an extremely early kickoff (12:00 CET), which infuriated the Tuscan manager, especially amid the rising mid-May temperature in Rome. Sarri had already expressed his irritation when the first Derby of the season was also scheduled at a similar time back in September.

This time, the Lega Serie A argued that their hand was forced due to the final of the Italian Open, a tennis tournament taking place at the same sports complex as the Stadio Olimpico. The local authorities of Rome tried to move the fixture to Monday, citing public safety. However, the Lega insisted on playing this match (and the four other games involving clubs fighting for Europe) on Sunday.

Maurizio Sarri Threatened to Boycott the Derby​

The parties eventually reached a settlement, scheduling the contest at a very early hour of the day, much to Sarri’s dismay. In fact, the 67-year-old had threatened to boycott the Derby should the contest be played at noon. These were his words following Wednesday’s defeat to Inter Milan in the Coppa Italia final:

If it’s played on Sunday, I’m not coming — and if I were the president, I wouldn’t even send the team. We’d take the one-point deduction and leave it at that. Lega Serie Amade enormous mistakes, scheduling the Turin derby during the ATP Finals and now the Rome derby during one of the biggest tennis tournaments. The Prefect was clear, and nobody apologized for the mistake.

Lazio Players Convince Sarri to Attend Roma Derby​

On Saturday, Sarri didn’t hold a pre-match press conference or speak with any member of the press, and he’s unlikely to do so on Sunday. Nevertheless, Il Messaggero reveals that the manager will show up, and he’ll be in the dugout as usual.

Roma vs Lazio Best Combined XI: Giallorossi Dominate the Lineup

As the Roman newspaper explains, the Lazio players urged their head coach not to abandon them in this pivotal fixture, especially with their fans deciding not to attend the Derby as they continue to protest against club president Claudio Lotito.

Continue reading...