FLORENCE, ITALY – JANUARY 29: Maurizio Sarri during the “Panchina d’Oro” award season 2022/2023 at Centro Tecnico Federale di Coverciano on January 29, 2024 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

Maurizio Sarri explains why he came back to Lazio after a devastating year off the field, looks forward to ‘anarchic’ Nuno Tavares and advises new Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso.

The coach resigned from the Biancocelesti in March 2024 while dealing with family matters and believing he had reached an impasse with the current squad, but returned to the Stadio Olimpico this summer.

“Returning to Lazio is like coming back home, the fans loved me here,” he told Tuttomercatoweb.

“It might not have been a smart decision, as I am back in a place where I finished second, but it was extremely easy in terms of sentiment. The last year has been terrible for me, I lost very important members of my family and for many months football felt marginal. Now I want to get back to my work.”

There had been reports Sarri was approached by Fiorentina to take over after Raffaele Palladino resigned, which would mean coaching his hometown club.

“There was some very minimal contact, but only after I had already signed for Lazio. I will always carry in my heart the support shown to me by the Fiorentina fans during this difficult time, they were extraordinary and genuinely moving, even putting my picture up around the city.”

Sarri returns to a different Lazio

Lazio has changed since Sarri was last at the helm, going through Igor Tudor and then Marco Baroni, with some players who have developed.

“I had said that after 50 games as a deep-lying playmaker, Rovella would become a top player, even if he needs to pass it around a bit better. Matteo Guendouzi is an animal, you need to put him on a leash sometimes, as he cannot stop himself at 100 per cent.

“Nuno Tavares is the only unknown of the defence I will start working with. He’s very talented, but anarchic, so can become remarkable if we manage to get him in position.”

Sarri advice for Italy coach Gattuso

Sarri had already joined Lazio when the Italy role was opened up by the dismissal of Luciano Spalletti, so the coach was asked what can be done to improve the Nazionale’s fortunes.

“There is clearly something not working, because two years ago we were second in the UEFA ranking for clubs and this season we are third, even though the Nazionale has incredible problems. There is a disconnect between the quality of the club teams and Italy’s performances, even if this happens elsewhere too.”

Gennaro Gattuso will be appointed the new Azzurri coach, so does Sarri have any advice?

“I am very fond of Gattuso and tell him just this: Let Gattuso be Gattuso, even as the Italy coach, without dropping down to any compromise on his view of football.”

At club level, Inter reached the second Champions League Final in three years, but also got swept away 5-0 by Paris Saint-Germain.

“PSG taught a lesson to the football world by getting rid of the top players, lowering the wage bill, showing courage by relying on very young players, and it took them to win a trophy that Lionel Messi and Neymar failed to at this club.”

Looking back over his career, what was the toughest success for Sarri?

“Juventus were the most difficult team to coach, because they were asymmetrical. We won the Scudetto thanks to the fresher players, like Rodrigo Bentancur. Although Lazio were up there for a long time that season, we always knew it was between us and Inter, because the Aquile playing every three days just didn’t have the squad to compete.”