"To beat Bayern? We have to think it's not impossible," says Sarri

Lazio coach Maurizio Sarri, who faces Bayern in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Wednesday, warned his players that they can only beat the Germans if they believe they can, and said he would not play a more defensive game because of the level of their opponents.

"If I tell my players to play with enthusiasm and confidence and then put an extra defender on them, I am not credible even to the players. Let's play our game, without a second thought," he told Tuesday's pre-match press conference.  Bayern, despite their recent 3-0 home league defeat to Leverkusen, are the clear favourites for the clash.

"We have to think that it is not impossible. If we think it is, we have already lost. They come in as favourites, we have to go with enthusiasm because it's a nice game to experience; maybe they're much stronger, but we have to have the confidence to try at all costs. It takes a lot of courage, no second thoughts," added the coach.

Lazio are coming off the back of a 3-1 win over Cagliari that ended a three-match unbeaten run, including in the Super Cup against Inter, a game to forget, according to Sarri. "When we have to suffer, we all suffer together. There will be difficulties to overcome, this is inevitable when teams are of this calibre. We need to do the opposite of what we did with Inter in the Super Cup, when we were at the mercy of events. Here we have to deal with them," he said. 

That said, the Bavarians' defeat does not give the coach any extra confidence. "I expect a strong Bayern. These teams can make some mistakes in the league, but they don't make mistakes in the Champions League. Years ago I had to prepare for a game against Real Madrid, I started watching the league games and I had a feeling that changed completely on the pitch on the day of the game," he said.

 

February 13, 2024