Gattuso Explains Sluggish Lazio Display, Provides Updates on Gudmundsson
Lazio head coach Gennaro Gattuso admits his team found difficulties in Saturday’s friendly against Juve Stabia.
Lazio Play Out Entertaining Draw With Juve Stabia
The Biancocelesti hosted the Serie B club for a friendly held at their training ground in Formello. Gattuso’s men took the lead twice in the first half, first through Tijjani Noslin and then Mattia Zaccagni, but the visitors scored a swift equaliser on both occasions.
Lazio 3-3 Juve Stabia: Entertaining Friendly at Formello
After the break, Lazio loanee Sana Fernandes stole the limelight with a lovely goal that gave Juve Stabia the lead, but Andrea Pinamonti pounced on the goalkeeper’s mistake to restore parity, ending the game in a 3-3 draw.
Gennaro Gattuso Revealed Why Lazio Were Exhausted
In his post-match interview with Lazio Style Channel (via La Lazio Siamo Noi), Gattuso explained that his players were tired after three heavy-loaded days in training.
We take away from this that we struggled, which is something we have to deal with. We were coming off three days of work; unlike last week, we had only worked for two days, with our legs feeling a little heavy, but that’s understandable.
The important thing is to do things properly. We could have done better with the goals (we conceded), but we take home another important day of work. We looked a little rusty, but that’s understandable. We knew what we had done in these days, and we are missing eight important players.
Gattuso Warns Lazio About Dangerous Monza
After the international break, Lazio will resume their Serie A campaign with a home fixture against Monza on October 11. Gattuso expects a difficult challenge against a physical and courageous opponent.
We start with an opponent that needs to be handled with care, a team that goes at you, isn’t afraid, relishes one-on-one battles, and needs to be prepared for properly because we haven’t been together for 20 days.
If you don’t go at full speed, they can put you in difficulty because they come at you, they believe in themselves, they have great physicality and tremendous desire. They systematically bring a lot of players forward when they turn defence into attack, which is why I said this is a game we have to respect.
How Lazio’s International Players Have Been Faring
Gattuso is keeping a close eye on Lazio players who are currently taking part in the UEFA Nations League, and he’s pleased that Gustav Isaksen is getting the opportunity to shake off the rust in his appearances for Denmark.
Isaksen got some minutes, while Provstgaard got a few too many (laughs). Taylor played 20-25 minutes with the Netherlands, and Sutalo did the same. Nuno played a spell. Some have played very little, others a bit more.
But Isaksen needed minutes and he got them. Hopefully, we’ll be good enough to pick up where we left off.
Gattuso Opens up on Albert Gudmundsson Injury
Albert Gudmundsson returned early after dislocating his shoulder during Iceland’s game against Estonia. There have been various speculations regarding the timetable of his recovery, so Gattuso is hoping to have the 29-year-old back in less than two months.
We hope to get him back as soon as possible. I hope it will be much less than the two months that have been talked about. As of today, there are no problems apart from Gudmundsson.
