Mansion Sports – Lazio manager Maurizio Sarri insisted his side did not deserve to suffer defeat in the Derby della Capitale against AS Roma.

According to him, the result was determined more by individual errors than by the overall quality of his team’s performance.

Sarri Regrets the Costly Error Leading to the Goal

Roma sealed victory through Lorenzo Pellegrini’s solitary strike after Nuno Tavares lost possession on the edge of the penalty area. Sarri considered that moment the decisive turning point that ultimately punished his team.

“We lost because of a major mistake. We will have to see whether it was purely technical or simply carelessness. The truth is, we played well but ended up losing in such a way. I feel sorry for the supporters who gave us their full backing, and also for the players, because they did not deserve to be on the losing side,” Sarri told DAZN.

Missed Opportunities to Take the Lead

Sarri stressed that Lazio had the chance to go in front before conceding. In his view, the team created four to five clear opportunities in the first half but failed to capitalize.

“We could have been ahead early. At least up until the 38th minute, I saw no indication that we were heading for defeat,” he added.

Although shaken after Roma’s goal, Sarri believed his players continued to show determination by creating chances until the closing stages of the match.

Surprising Selections in the Starting XI

The Tuscan coach also made several unexpected decisions with his lineup. Boulaye Dia was chosen to start ahead of Valentin Castellanos, while Nicolò Rovella was deployed from the outset in midfield despite not being fully fit.

“He trained very well all week, so it was logical to give him the opportunity. The team still managed to create chances, even though things became more difficult after we conceded,” Sarri explained.

Regarding Rovella, Sarri admitted to taking a calculated risk. “He picked up an injury in the first half, but using a second substitution before halftime would have been risky. So I asked him to carry on until the interval, even though he was in pain.”

Sarri’s Reflections After the Defeat

The loss marked Lazio’s third defeat in four Serie A fixtures this season, as well as Sarri’s second derby defeat since taking charge of the Biancocelesti. Even so, he argued that the context was different from their previous derby loss.

“I hope the players feel the same anger and disappointment as I do. But this time the story is different—it was not like the previous derby, when we were 0-3 down within the opening 20 minutes,” Sarri concluded.

Upcoming Fixtures for Lazio and Roma

Lazio are set to visit Genoa on Monday, 29 September, while Roma will host Verona the following weekend. After four Serie A rounds, Roma have collected nine points, leaving their city rivals trailing behind in the early league standings.