Sarri and Immobile lament familiar failings after Lazio humbled at Midtjylland

Maurizio Sarri bemoaned familiar “emotional breakdowns” and Ciro Immobile declared the result as “humiliating” after Lazio were thrashed 5-1 at Midtjylland in the Europa League on Thursday.

Sergej Milinkovic-Savic’s 57th-minute strike proved a mere consolation as Lazio never recovered from going 3-0 down in 52 minutes after goals from Paulinho, Sory Kaba and Evander.

Gustav Isaksen and captain Erik Sviatchenko added further finishes following the Lazio midfielder’s effort, condemning Sarri’s side to a humbling defeat on their travels to the MCH Arena.

It marked just the fourth time Lazio have shipped five or more goals in a UEFA competition, leaving Sarri to question his methods as he lamented a reoccurrence of previous problems.

“I don’t see great differences [from previous seasons],” Sarri told reporters. “These sudden emotional breakdowns are similar to those of previous years.

“It is difficult to understand the reasons: if it’s me I have to take a step back, if it’s the players it has to go away.”

FIVE – ONE #FCMLAZ pic.twitter.com/eUzq9q0bjy

— FC Midtjylland (@fcmidtjylland) September 15, 2022

Lazio were met with jeers from their travelling supporters and Immobile acknowledged the boos were justified.

“The fans reacted with a clear head. They told us they were rightly p***** about what they saw. But to look forward, they told us not to give up and that nothing was lost,” Immobile said.

“We thought we had taken a step more than last year, but we were wrong. Losing like this is really humiliating. I see it different from the defeats against Bologna and Verona.

“We played with little humility. In Europe, you pay for these things and we have paid enough for them – five goals are unacceptable.”