Gattuso Cautious About Lazio's Momentum During Long Break

Gennaro Gattuso used a 2-0 friendly victory over Arezzo to test new approaches during the international break. He credited his squad for Lazio's record-setting start to the season.

The coach explained his decision to pair Andrea Pinamonti and Tijjani Noslin in attack to the club's official channels. "It's one option; you have to explore all possibilities," Gattuso stated, as reported by TuttoMercatoWeb. "We had completed two days of focused training. Our desire and mentality were strong, which is crucial and must never waver. This team's success stems from a willingness to work hard and endure."

He also acknowledged the contributions of academy players who participated. "These friendlies are valuable, but a match is always a match. My compliments to the Primavera players who joined us. In defense, we have four center-backs who train with seriousness, humility, and ambition. My task is to make as few errors as possible in my selections."

Gattuso Fears Drop in Intensity for Lazio After Break

Lazio currently shares the top spot in Serie A with 13 points from five matches, marking their best-ever start to the league season. However, Gattuso expressed unease about the duration of the upcoming hiatus.

"I experienced a similar situation at Valencia when the World Cup occurred in December. I found it unusual, different. After 20 days without matches, adrenaline levels drop, and we must work to prevent that intensity from fading," he explained. "It was appropriate for them to rest, and the result today was secondary. We managed the players' minutes carefully. It's an unusual situation, and we hope it won't cost us."

When asked about the praise he has received for the team's performance in the opening weeks, he redirected the credit. "The praise belongs to the players. The Mantova game was a surprise even to us. We've seen firsthand that there's no room for compromise if we aim for significant achievements, as we've already paid the price for past shortcomings. The team arrives with a positive attitude, embraces the hard work, and by maintaining this atmosphere, we can achieve great satisfaction."

Regarding player fitness, Gattuso reported a new concern while noting progress elsewhere. "Cataldi experienced a quadriceps issue yesterday. We will conduct a check in the next day or two. Dele-Bashiru is expected to rejoin the group next week. Marusic has also shown significant improvement, and Rovella has begun low-intensity running exercises."