Lazio caretaker coach Giovanni Martusciello defended the players after their win at Frosinone.

Martusciello was asked about president Claudio Lotito's claims that the players "betrayed" Maurizio Sarri after the coach's resignation.

But he replied: “No, absolutely not. I have been in football for many years. This squad, it's impossible to think they could do such a thing. It is just not in the DNA of these lads. If the fans were to recognise that attitude, it'd be a disaster for them, but I can assure you these are great professionals, they give 100 per cent. Betrayal is too harsh a word, I never had that sensation over two years here.

“Sarri made this decision to get this performance out of them. He realised that he was no longer having an effect on them, so there were three options: one was resignation, one was being fired, the other was extending the contract by another two or three years.

“This is not at all usual for the coach. With extreme situations, he had to take extreme measures. He did it for the good of Lazio, I don't know if he told the media that specifically, but he did not resign because he was afraid to be in charge of Lazio. He did it to get this reaction out of them.

“I will not deny that when he announced his resignation, he was emotional. He was the first to be upset. It's sad, but we will find other paths."