(Reuters) – Lazio coach Maurizio Sarri said his team lost their heads in their 3-1 loss at home against Salernitana on Sunday in Serie A.
Sarri’s side went into the game with six consecutive clean sheets in the league and were only one game away from equaling the club’s record streak of seven in a row from 1998.
“We had the game completely in hand until the equalizer, which caught us unprepared. We probably assumed the game was won and that made us lose all our balance and shape,” Sarri told DAZN.
Lazio scored the first goal with Mattia Zaccagni in the 41st minute but saw the visitors score three after the break.
“The game changed after it went to 1-1, the referee did not help keep the situation calm, but we still should have had the strength to overcome all of that,” Sarri said.
Lazio ended a lousy day with midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic getting a yellow card in the 72nd minute, suspending him for the upcoming derby against AS Roma.
“Not only was it not a yellow card, it wasn’t even a foul, Milinkovic-Savic had already passed the ball, the other player was late and there was no way to avoid the collision,” Sarri said.
“In 50 years of football I have never seen this type of yellow card given for a team that is attacking and in possession. If I say what I really think, they will give me a six-month ban.”
Lazio plays at Dutch side Feyenoord in the Europa League on Thursday before facing Roma away on Sunday.
“We need to get ourselves back in order and start again, starting with the trip to Holland, then we can think about the derby after that,” Sarri said.
Lazio are fourth in the standings on 24 points, eight behind leaders Napoli. Salernitana are 10th.
(Reporting by Tommy Lund in Gdansk; Editing by Christian Radnedge)
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