Lazio director of sport Walter Sabatini explains why he quit the club. “I made serious errors that influenced our whole season.”
It has been a dismal campaign for the Biancocelesti, who started out in the Champions League only to finish just above the relegation battle.
On Wednesday their Coppa Italia semi-final defeat to Inter further characterised the season as a failure and prompted angry protests from the fans.
“Leaving Lazio is a real regret, but I had to go with my conscience. I no longer have the right motivation to start again. I made serious errors that influenced the whole season.”
He was already under fire in the summer for the failure to capture goalkeeper Juan Pablo Carrizo and the disappointing signing of Nestor Fernando Muslera.
Although Sabatini had offered his resignation in September and it was rejected, but this seems to be more of a consensual parting of the ways.
“I have not yet spoken to President Claudio Lotito, but what I am proposing is not a resignation,” explained the director of sport on Radio Incontro.
“I have a contract until June 30 and have decided not to continue this working relationship. It is an irreversible decision and obviously I’ll communicate it to Lotito in due course.”
Within the space of 24 hours both director of sport Sabatini and general secretary Giampiero Persichetti announced they were leaving the club.
Coach Delio Rossi is expected to follow suit and the favourite to replace him on the Biancocelesti bench is current Sampdoria Coach Walter Mazzarri.
Other candidates include Walter Novellino who seems closer to QPR Siena’s Mario Beretta and ex-Cagliari boss Marco Giampaolo.