Gattuso: Lazio's Luck and My Embrace of Challenge

Gennaro Gattuso acknowledged Lazio's significant luck in their 2-0 away win against Venezia. He stated that he wouldn't have joined the club if there wasn't considerable difficulty to overcome.

Enthusiasm for Lazio was low heading into the summer, with ultras boycotting home games and an early exit from the Coppa Italia. However, the team now sits joint top of the table with 13 points, alongside Roma and Inter, having secured four wins and a draw against Milan.

Christos Mandas was instrumental, saving a penalty from John Yeboah and multiple key Venezia chances. Mattia Zaccagni then scored from the spot, and Tijjani Noslin sealed the win with a header for the second goal.

“I can only thank my players,” Gattuso told Sky Sport Italia. “We went out of the Coppa Italia early, had 50 days of intense heat in pre-season, but they gave me everything.”

“We were lucky today. Venezia played very well in the first half; if they had led 2-0, we couldn’t have argued. Our initial approach was wrong, but we improved after halftime. This is part of the process; we know we have much to work on.”

“These lads work hard. If we aim for something significant, our first-half performance isn’t enough. We were very, very fortunate today.”

Lazio has been a surprise this season, winning four of five matches and drawing 2-2 with Milan.

“The league table means little now. To truly surprise, we must perform consistently. Today, we were often outnumbered in defense, losing the ball and having to cover long distances,” Gattuso added.

“I’ve given the players five days off. Then, we’ll resume with renewed enthusiasm and a drive to improve our mentality and progress.”

Players like Mandas, Rade Belahyane, and Noslin, who were previously overlooked, have shown significant improvement this season.

Zaccagni had not scored in Serie A since November 2025, marking nearly a year without a league goal.

“Seeing players like Belahyane put in the effort is rewarding. He apologized early on for struggling, and I told him to be patient. It’s satisfying when I see players eager to learn,” Gattuso said.

“I understand the process; I watched and learned from the veterans when I joined Milan. While the game has changed, we need to connect with players on an emotional level. They know more now than we did. I’m happy to help those who are willing to work hard. I don’t tolerate laziness.”

While other coaches have cited difficulties at Lazio, including transfer restrictions and fan boycotts, Gattuso embraced these challenges.

“Honestly, I wouldn’t have come to Lazio if there wasn’t all this trouble. I chose this path. I was close to joining before, two or three times, and always declined President Lotito. I knew it was a complex situation, not ideal, but I chose it after speaking with some players I knew from the national team. I sensed their hunger.

“I knew this was a place with players eager to work. We haven’t achieved everything yet, but we’re content with our current standing. We have 13 points; we need another 27 to feel secure.”

According to Opta, this marks Lazio’s best-ever start in Serie A history when calculating three points for a win.

“I’ll reflect on my achievements when I’m older, perhaps with my grandchildren. For now, the focus must remain on moving forward,” Gattuso concluded.