Maurizio Sarri is fighting to save his job despite limping towards his first league title with Juventus… a third defeat against Lazio could seriously damage his long-term future
- Serie A leaders Juventus host fourth-placed Lazio in Serie A on Monday evening
- Maurizio Sarri’s men have taken one point from their last three league matches
- Another defeat would leave the gap to Inter at five points with four games left
- The Old Lady have already been beaten twice by Lazio this season
Maurizio Sarri comes into Monday night’s Serie A clash with Lazio under the most pressure he has been in since the latter stages of his Chelsea career.
The Old Lady have failed to win any of their last three matches, drawing to Sassuolo and Atalanta after collapsing and letting a 2-0 lead slip in a defeat by AC Milan.
That run of results has seen Inter Milan close the gap to five points, albeit having played one more game.
Juventus boss Maurizio Sarri is under pressure after failing to win any of his last three games
Sarri’s men also came up short in the Italian Cup final, losing on penalties to Napoli, and another defeat on Monday will surely have them looking over their shoulders.
And a loss is something that is a very realistic possibility with fourth-placed Lazio having bested them twice already this season.
Lazio manager Simone Inzaghi has also been tipped as a potential replacement for Sarri so this game could well be an audition.
Sarri’s season still has all the potential to end in glory, a win on Monday puts him one away from a first career league title.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Co have seen their Serie A lead cut short by Inter Milan
And of course it is the Champions League that remains his side’s priority having last won Europe’s premier competition 24 years ago.
However, another poor result could have long-term implications for Sarri, questions will be asked behind the scenes in Turin if they are not already.
Speaking on Sunday, Sarri insisted he is relishing the ever-increasing pressure.
‘Have you ever asked a Formula 1 driver if he is afraid of speed?’ he said. ‘It’s part of the job, it goes well if you win and badly if you lose. I’m happier feeling someone breathing down my neck.
A third defeat by Lazio this season could have implications for Sarri’s long-term future
‘I have a contract and I want to honour it. Look, my future is tomorrow, we must take it one game at a time and the rest is merely a consequence.
‘There are difficulties working in all clubs. There’s probably more media pressure here, while at Napoli it is more of a localised issue, but football is difficult everywhere you go.
‘We came up against teams in great shape, it is a strange time we’re playing in which is unique in the history of football.’