Maurizio Sarri has lauded goalkeeper Edoardo Motta as “amazing” following his crucial saves in Lazio’s penalty shootout victory against Atalanta. The Lazio manager also expressed a strong desire for the club’s supporters to suspend their ongoing boycott for the upcoming Coppa Italia Final against Inter on May 13.
The semi-final match was a nail-biting affair. Lazio twice surrendered their lead in the first leg and then repeated the pattern in Bergamo. Shortly after Alessio Romagnoli’s volley put Lazio ahead, Mario Pasalic’s deflected shot leveled the score at 1-1 on the night, making it 3-3 on aggregate.
With the score tied after extra time, the match proceeded to a penalty shootout. Edoardo Motta emerged as the hero, making four consecutive penalty saves. Earlier in the game, his spectacular fingertip save that pushed Gianluca Scamacca’s header onto the post had forced the tie into extra time.
Sarri Believes Lazio Earned Their Place in the Final
“Tonight’s game was extremely complicated, a knockout tie against a strong side in a stadium that is tough to play in for most European teams,” Sarri stated in his post-match interview. “This has been a great journey for us. We eliminated both of last season’s finalists, Milan and Bologna, and tonight a wonderful opponent like Atalanta. It has been a tough, complicated campaign, and we have achieved this satisfaction of reaching the Final.”
This victory holds significant weight for Lazio’s season. Not only does it secure their place in the Coppa Italia Final against Inter at their home ground, the Stadio Olimpico, but it also guarantees qualification for the Supercoppa Italiana Final Four. Furthermore, winning the trophy would provide them with direct entry into the Europa League for the following season.
Sarri acknowledged the team’s persistent struggle to find the back of the net throughout the season. “We’ve had a problem all season, which is that we struggle to score goals. The team has become solid and tough to play against, but we don’t find it easy to get the ball in the back of the net,” he admitted.
The coach, who had previously expressed his disagreement with the club’s decision to sell Christos Mandas in January, saw 21-year-old mid-season signing Motta step up significantly following Ivan Provedel’s season-ending injury. “He is amazing on penalties. He saved four out of five in the shootout, plus one in Serie A against Bologna, so that’s five out of six in the Lazio shirt,” Sarri commented with a smile. He added, “Motta has room for improvement, especially playing the ball with his feet, but he has important prospects. He must possess the desire to keep improving.”
The Coppa Italia Final is traditionally held at a neutral venue, but its scheduling at the Stadio Olimpico, Lazio’s home stadium, presents a unique situation. However, with fans boycotting home games for months due to President Claudio Lotito’s strategy, attendance is not guaranteed. When asked if he would appeal for them to suspend the boycott for the final, Sarri responded, “I always said that I respect people’s decisions, so if our fans made this choice, I respect that. Having said that, if they were to attend, I and the team would be overjoyed. Yesterday, they came to the airport to encourage us, so if they came, I’d be the happiest coach in the world.”
Sarri was observed searching for someone in the stands after the penalty shootout. He explained, “A friend of mine was in the stands, someone who historically brings good luck. He’s been telling me since yesterday that we’d go through, so I was looking for him.”
