‘I can’t play on turf like that!’
Maurizio Sarri has threatened to quit as Lazio manager due to the state of the club’s pitch at the Stadio Olimpico.
Sarri was left less than impressed after his side’s 0-0 draw with Udinese on Saturday and has hit out at the state of the pitch they have been playing on.
Lazio share their ground with Roma and have hosted league games as well as European games for both teams this season, which is already beginning to take it’s toll on the turf.
Now Sarri has said he will walk away if the club don’t address the condition of the pitch as it affects his style of play.
Speaking to DAZN, he said: “We had prepared a series of moves out from the back, then abolished everything in the warm-up, because trying to play the ball to feet on that pitch is like unleashing a bomb.
“I don’t know what the President intends to do, but he might need a different coach, because I cannot play regularly on a turf like that, or we go play elsewhere.
“I am a coach who wants his teams to make 700 passes to feet in every game, I am not suited to this type of pitch, so if this remains the pitch, the club should think of someone else.”
The goalless draw ended I Biancocelesti’s run of four straight wins but their stalemate means they have gone five games without conceding a goal for the first time since 2007.
Lazio currently sit fourth in Serie A and are five points away from current league leaders Napoli, who are yet to lose a game.
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