Navigating Preseason Challenges

Congratulations to Lazio, despite the first summer defeat. Sarri is moderately satisfied with his team's performance against Fenerbahce and conveyed the concept to the group in a few words yesterday morning. At this moment, he is only interested in the application of his schemes (more complicated to learn in a short time), the results and the game will come later. At Istanbul's Sukru Saracoglu, it ends 1-0 because Mourinho's team, almost in league form, exploits a mistake by Guendouzi on a back pass. The Gila-Provstgaard duo is still doing well ahead of the August 24 debut in Como. Tavares stays back - according to Mau's orders - because he needs to improve there, not on full-field progressions. The first real test of this preseason (after Primavera and Avellino) shows huge progress in the search for balance in the non-possession phase. Mau lays the foundations of defensive solidity, the one with 21 clean sheets and 30 goals conceded, which in 2023 gave them second place. The second cycle of the Tuscan coach starts again from these prerogatives, even more so with the market block. The idea seems to have taken root, but now the next step is needed. The painful notes of these first outings remain the absence of a fluid maneuver and the goal drought (just four, three in the first family test, one on a penalty at Stirpe in the 92nd minute). The quality rate is not that high. The team has more leg characteristics, which do not fit well with Sarrismo. In midfield, there is no longer a mezzala like Luis Alberto, who can launch the offensive trident. Mau is insisting on Dele-Bashiru's potential for breakthroughs, but with Rovella and Guendouzi there is still too much disorder and ball control is lacking. Cataldi does better as a low vertex, but it is not enough to connect the departments as Mau asks. This is why it may become necessary to rely on other modules (4-2-3-1, 4-3-2-1 or 4-3-1-2), which can relaunch the third attack of last season (tied with Milan and slightly better than Fiorentina, Napoli, and Juve) often disarmed by a sieve defense. The fast is heavy. It is not broken with either Taty or Dia, both in the 4-3-3 move in vain and are served little. The only deep ball for Castellanos came from Cataldi against Fenerbahce in the second half. The Argentine thus continues to struggle and is nervous, isolated, and desolate. Dia comes on in his place for half an hour, does not do better, but is justified by eight days in the pits. After three tests, the forwards are dry, of supplies and not just goals. Zaccagni needs to regain condition after the pubis surgery at the end of June, Pedro is 38 and less effective on the wing. Cancellieri is preferred to Noslin (Sarri asked to loan the Dutchman and keep Matteo), but is equally sterile. Sarri is still thinking of moving Zaccagni or Pedro to the attacking midfield: soon the trials may resume, especially with the Isaksen puzzle (analysis on mononucleosis carried out on Tuesday and still awaiting a positive or negative response). Probably they will wait for the return to Formello. Tomorrow the fourth friendly will be played against Galatasaray, there is no time for new experiments in the mini Turkish retreat. First, Osimhen must be stopped, defense comes before attack.