LAZIO manager Maurizio Sarri is taking nothing for granted against Celtic in Rome despite their ropey away record in the Champions League, saying that their red card curse has given a false impression of their level.
Celtic had Gustaf Lagerbielke and Odin Thiago Holm ordered off in the 2-0 defeat at Feyenoord, before Daizen Maeda was sent off early in the 6-0 thumping at the hands of Atletico Madrid last time out.
But Sarri, who is under pressure due to Lazio’s recent poor form, has warned his men that Celtic are more than capable of coming to the Italian capital and getting a result.
"Celtic are a good team, they have good rhythm, and some good technical qualities,” Sarri said.
“They are not an easy side to beat as we saw in the first match in Glasgow.
"We shouldn’t fall into the trap of reading too much into the negative results they have had away from home in this section, because those games were heavily conditioned by the sendings-off that Celtic had; two against Feyenoord and then a very early one in Madrid.
"They are a good team and we can certainly expect a complicated match. This is the time for us all to regroup, and we have to trust that the whole atmosphere that surrounds Champions League football can give us that extra boost.”
Sarri has been criticised of late with Lazio currently languishing in 11th place in Serie A, and again came under fire as his side went down 2-1 to Salernitana at the weekend.
But he has rejected claims that the opposition now know exactly how to deal with his team.
“Have this Lazio team become too predictable? These are cliches that don’t make sense,” he said.
“Barcelona have won for 10 years by always playing the same way. These are the sort of conversations you hear in the pub, and they are of absolutely no interest or concern to me.
"There is no point talking about tactics unless you play at the same level as your opponents. If you fail to do that, no tactics are going to work to compensate.
“It is hard for us to pinpoint [why things have been going badly], but if you change players, change the coach and the problem is still there, it must be an environmental one.”
Pedro, who scored the last-gasp winner that broke Celtic’s hearts in Glasgow in the last meeting between the sides, says that the Lazio players are fired up to get another result against Brendan Rodgers’ men just to ease the pressure on their coach.
“Sarri is a very special coach and a very special person who is an absolute professional, a perfectionist,” Pedro said.
“Of course, he is frustrated by our results, but he has been a very important coach for this club, and he is doing everything he can to give us a lift.
“Football is like this. If you lose two or three matches, it becomes a drama, but we don’t see it that way. We just need to give everything on the pitch to make sure the results turn around.
“The coach is not the problem. We need to be all united to move forward as a group.
If I score against Celtic, I will give him a hug, and I’m sure that’s the same for all the other players.”
The Spaniard agreed with his manager that Celtic will pose a formidable challenge as they look for the victory that will keep them in the hunt to remain in European competition into the new year.
“It will be a hard game - that’s always the way in the Champions League,” he said.
“It was a very hard-fought win at Celtic Park and we’re expecting exactly the same kind of contest.
“Celtic are physically a very strong team, they are very strong technically too and they move the ball about well. As with every game in the Champions League, this will be another final for us.
“They are a good team with a number of important players like (Kyogo) Furuhashi and Joe Hart. “Those are players I really respect and who make Celtic a very difficult team to beat at both ends of the pitch.
“They played well and made it very hard for us in the first game. (Callum) McGregor uses the ball so well and is highly technical. This will not be a straightforward game for us.
“It was a great moment for me [to score in Glasgow]. Scoring is always great, but when it is such an important goal at such an important time in such a beautiful stadium, that is as good as it gets.
“It was very, very special to win a Champions League game in this manner and be able to celebrate with all our fans in the corner. We really hope to have another special moment - and the same result - second time around.”
