Napoli 0-2 Lazio – Sarri: ‘Fiorentina our only mistake in last 6 weeks, Taylor reminds me of Hamsik’

Maurizio Sarri was in buoyant mood after Lazio’s impressive victory at the Maradona, reflecting on a remarkable six-week run of form and paying an extraordinary compliment to midfielder Kenneth Taylor by comparing him to one of his most beloved former players.

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The Lazio head coach has overseen a significant upturn in results since a difficult period earlier in the season, and Saturday’s win underlined just how far his side have come.

“In the last month and a half this squad has made only one mistake, the game at Fiorentina,” Sarri told DAZN, via TuttoMercatoWeb.

He also singled out victories against Milan twice, Juventus and now Napoli as evidence of a group that is capable of raising their level against the division’s biggest clubs.

“There are signs of improvement both from individuals and from the team,” he added.

On the tactical approach that produced such a dominant display at the Maradona, Sarri was characteristically analytical. “We have adapted to the characteristics of our players,” he said.

“We do not have playmakers in the traditional sense, but many players who have bursts of pace and play a faster style of football.”

Lazio coach Sarri: ‘See shades of Hamsik in Taylor’

That directness was evident throughout, with Lazio punishing Napoli on the counter-attack with a ruthlessness that belied their league position.

The most evocative moment of the press conference came when Sarri was asked about Kenneth Taylor, whose energetic box-to-box display was one of the highlights of the afternoon.

The question prompted an immediate and warm response.

“You bring back pleasant memories,” Sarri said. “When I came off the pitch I saw Hamsik, and Hamsik was everything I ever wanted from a midfielder. Taylor is an intelligent boy who has had a significant impact on Italian football. He is playing in one of the most intense leagues in the world and he is doing well.”

Sarri also praised Matteo Cancellieri, whose physical attributes he felt made him ideally suited to the specific demands of this fixture.

“The three forwards we selected seemed the most suited to this type of match,” he said. “Cancellieri has immense physical qualities, technically he can still improve in his decision-making, but he was the right choice today.”