Gattuso Urges Lazio to Maintain Determination After Surging to Serie A’s Top Spot
Lazio’s manager Gennaro Gattuso has advised his team to retain their strong belief and determination, warning that failure to do so could see them become an ordinary team. This comes after Lazio’s impressive comeback victory against Cagliari, allowing them to claim sole leadership of the Serie A standings for the first time in over 5,800 days. The victory against Cagliari came on the heels of Inter’s defeat to AC Milan, putting Lazio three points clear at the top.
For the first time in their history, Lazio has won nine out of their opening ten Serie A games, a feat last achieved by Milan and Napoli during the 2021/22 season.
“In this match, we faced considerable challenges, and Cagliari deserves credit for that. Our substitutes made significant contributions that changed the game’s momentum,” Gattuso told DAZN Italia.
During a tightly contested match, Cagliari took an early lead with M’Bala Nzola tapping in after an assist from Alieu Fadera. However, Gustavo Isaksen’s curling shot brought Lazio back on level terms, followed late in the match by Andrea Pinamonti’s close-range header, sealing the victory.
There was some controversy surrounding Isaksen’s goal due to an apparent head injury suffered by Cagliari’s Alessandro Deiola, who was not replaced as the action continued. After the game, Deiola was carried off the field showing signs of a concussion.
Gattuso applauded the determination of his players. “The players who came on showed great determination and enthusiasm. It’s rewarding to see them respond positively to not being in the starting lineup,” he stated.
Lazio remains one of the two unbeaten teams in Serie A along with Roma, and Gattuso faces a challenging match next against Max Allegri’s Napoli.
“We need to aim for the 40 points target we set at the season’s onset and take it one game at a time,” said Gattuso. “If we start focusing too much on our position, it may overwhelm us. Hence, we must keep pushing forward and maintain our momentum.”
This victory marked Lazio’s sixth consecutive win in Serie A, their best run since February 2021. Although they are still short of the club’s record of 11 consecutive wins between October 2019 and January 2020, Gattuso emphasized the importance of team spirit and commitment.
“This team believes in itself and enjoys working together. We are improving with every game,” Gattuso noted, particularly regarding Nuno Tavares’s challenges against persistent marking throughout the match.
Reflecting on Lazio’s tumultuous start to the season, Gattuso mentioned that a prior defeat in the Coppa Italia did not shake their confidence. “Our work ethic and spirit keep us motivated. Without that, we risk reverting to a standard team,” he stated.
Lazio’s stellar performance in recent times draws attention not only to the team’s progress but also to the presence of former president Sergio Cragnotti in the stands, who last oversaw a Scudetto celebration for the club back in 2000. “I would like to meet him; he was an influential president,” remarked Gattuso.
