The defeat to Inter Milan at the Stadio Olimpico means Lazio will miss European competition for a second consecutive season, with the Coppa Italia offering their only remaining route to the Europa League.
Sarri pushed back on suggestions the final was a carbon copy of Saturday's 3-0 league defeat to the same opponents.
"Absolutely not a carbon copy of Saturday — there was more difference on Saturday. We chose not to press them high from the start. On Saturday we tried and they cut through us easily.
"We chose to keep the defensive line lower in the first half, because we noticed they start with this great aggression that they cannot sustain for 90 minutes. We wanted to raise the defensive line in the second half, but we conceded only possession and gifted two goals, and everything fell apart."
He acknowledged the second half offered more, but not enough.
"In the second half we had two or three balls to reopen the match and we got them wrong. You have to recognise that Inter are clearly stronger than us technically."
Sarri spoke at length about his genuine attachment to Lazio, in response to a question about comments he had made at the Quirinale the day before the final, where he met President Sergio Mattarella alongside both squads.
"I have a habit of trying to involve myself in the environments where I live. In some I have become attached and felt an integral part of the environment, in others much less. Lazio belongs to the first group. In other environments I have not managed it — in two or three I felt truly like one of them."
On whether Lazio's squad is the foundation for rebuilding.
"This group has mental qualities, but clearly technical quality needs to be added. There is no point going around the subject — to be competitive with five or six Italian teams, we are missing things."
He was equally direct about what is needed to restore the club's standing.
"It would be important to do well in Italy. At this moment, we cannot make grand plans. The situation at Lazio is clear. You have to put together a high-level league season, otherwise there is no solution."