Lazio coach Maurizio Sarri says he hopes to meet Spanish side Barcelona in the last 16 of the Champions League. The Biancocelesti are through to the knockout stage of the competition, despite a 2-0 loss to Atletico Madrid, and speaking in the post match, Sarri made it clear who he hopes to face in the next leg:
“I’m a bit angry that we came to a difficult stadium, against a very good opponent, and everything we did wrong we paid for, while what we created we thwarted. I am sorry for the approach at the beginning of the two halves, there was a gap in intensity and we paid for it. However, difficult stadium, strong opponents, I am convinced that we did our best.
“Last 16? At this point, as the only big team I’m missing in my career is Barcelona, let’s hope we’ll end up with Barcelona. I am sorry that they are playing in a different stadium this year, but it is an opponent I miss and I would gladly go there”.
We have shown in previous years that we struggle to mentally hold up several competitions. Last year we were poor in Europe, we were more determined in the league, and this year the opposite is happening. However, it is a demonstration of a mental calibre that is not yet at this level.”
