Grosso: ‘Sassuolo ahead of schedule, but still make naive errors’
Fabio Grosso admits Sassuolo are ‘ahead of schedule’ this season, but a lack of maturity was evident in the ‘naïve errors’ for their 2-1 defeat to Lazio.
The Neroverdi had won five of their previous six Serie A matches, losing only to leaders Inter, and had the opportunity with a win here to leapfrog Bologna into eighth place.
They had recovered from the shocking start of a Daniel Maldini goal after 80 seconds, drawing level through Armand Laurienté, but were undone deep into stoppages.
Goalkeeper Arijanet Muric mistimed the run off his line, not for the first time this season, and allowed Adam Marusic to nod a Matteo Cancellieri cross into the empty net.
Grosso sees room for Sassuolo improvement
“Our initial approach wasn’t right, but there is an issue of maturity that requires certain steps in the process, and we are very much ahead of schedule this season,” Grosso told Sky Sport Italia.
“If we managed to be consistent too, then we’d be even higher up the table. We reacted to the opening goal, started the second half well too, but we lost intensity in the closing stages. It was more psychological than physical, especially after wasting two big chances, then making naïve errors.
“It would’ve been important to bring home at least a point, as Lazio might be having difficulties, but they remain a very strong team. They were able to bring on fresh legs in attack that made the difference.”
Andrea Pinamonti was suspended today, so M’Bala Nzola had his first start for Sassuolo, but some substitutes didn’t provide the boost that they needed.
“We certainly could’ve done better. I usually don’t change the two full-backs, but Coulibaly was struggling for fitness, while Garcia had just been booked and Lazio were pushing hard on those duels down the flanks, so I didn’t want us to go down to 10 men,” explained Grosso.
“That meant I couldn’t use those two substitutions to change in attack. It’s a pity, we had some big chances just moments before conceding the last goal. When we are not at full intensity, teams with this kind of quality will make it count.
“It’s a pity we conceded that goal at the end, we go back home with a bitter taste in our mouths. We must remember that if we’re not pushing to the max, a side like ours will drop points.”
It is still an extraordinarily positive season for Sassuolo, who were only promoted from Serie B last summer, as they remain in ninth place, just one point behind local rivals Bologna.
“We have a mix of different nationalities and cultures, plus some Italians who have done so much in the past, one of them winning the Euros, many youngsters who are growing. We have an interesting combination.”
Grosso was of course the man who scored the decisive penalty to give Italy the 2006 World Cup, beating France in the Final, so what advice does he have for the Azzurri preparing for the play-offs?
“I think you need the right balance between healthy fear of a big occasion and the clear-headed approach to enjoy the football. It’s been too long since we’ve been away from the World Cup, so we all hope to do our part by cheering on the team.”