Maurizio Sarri has praised the physical presence of Fisayo Dele-Bashiru following his second-half introduction in Lazio’s dramatic 3-3 draw with Udinese in Serie A, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The Nigerian midfielder was brought on after the break as Lazio sought greater control in a tightly contested encounter at the Stadio Olimpico, with his 45-minute cameo adding a more physical edge to the hosts’ midfield.
Sarri, however, also highlighted a crucial missed opportunity by Dele-Bashiru as a defining moment in the six-goal thriller, noting that the chance came when Lazio were leading 2-1 and in a strong position to take command of the contest.
The Italian coach admitted his side struggled early on, lacking intensity and composure, but credited an improved second-half performance that nearly secured victory before the momentum shifted.
“We entered as a team with a lot of nerves, we entered the game after half an hour,” he said in comments reported by Fanta Calcio.
“The second half was of excellent level, the turning point of the match on 2-1 is the missed goal opportunity with Dele-Bashiru.”
“We immediately suffered the physical gap this evening, we went into difficulty on all the dirty balls in the penalty area.
There was great character in looking for the draw as well.”
Despite the missed chance, Sarri’s remarks underscored the impact of Dele-Bashiru’s introduction, particularly in terms of physicality, even as Lazio ultimately had to settle for a point after surrendering their advantage in a pulsating contest.
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