Gattuso Praises Icardi & Frattesi, Explains Difference With Sarri’s Lazio
Lazio head coach Gennaro Gattuso opened up on Davide Frattesi, who is about to join the club, and Mauro Icardi, who emerged as a target.
Genarro Gattuso Pleased with Lazio’s Summer Preparations
After a positive pre-season, the 48-year-old is preparing to make his competitive debut for the Biancocelesti when his team hosts Mantova in the opening round of the Coppa Italia. In his pre-match interview with Sport Mediaset (via La Lazio Siamo Noi), Gattuso insisted he was content with what he saw during the training camp at Formello.
I have to say that I’m very happy with how we handled the training camp. It was very hot, but honestly, we were very comfortable at home. Aside from the heat, the facilities helped us. Having more than one pitch, and the fact that the players are well looked after in terms of equipment and facilities, as well as the indoor and outdoor pools, all helped.
We worked very well and I’m very satisfied. The lads are working well, we played a few friendlies and the team grew from game to game. On the 16th we have a competitive match and hopefully we can take to the pitch with the mentality we have seen so far.
Lazio Fans Won’t Attend Mantova Game
The Calabrian manager insisted that the absence of the protesting fans cannot be taken as an alibi for underperforming.
We all have to put our helmets on and face this together. We know the problems we have and we are fully aware of them. I respect the fans for their consistency in not attending home matches, and we know very well what it means to play with fans and without them. But it’s too easy to look for excuses. We know that and we all have to give something extra.
Gattuso Wants Long Coppa Italia Run
Gattuso urged his players to put on a good performance this weekend, as he intends to go far in the Coppa Italia.
On Sunday it’s a knockout game and we care about the Coppa Italia. We know Mantova will play their game, they have their own points of reference and their enthusiasm. We need a great Lazio to be able to bring the game home. Matches like these are not easy.
Gattuso Distances Himself From Maurizio Sarri
The AC Milan legend then highlighted the differences between his style of play and that of his predecessor, Maurizio Sarri, promising the fans a more proactive approach this season.
I think this team had a coach who was a master of the 4-3-3, but we have dismantled everything and are trying to do something different. We want to be more aggressive and we want to break things up. Last season this defence played as a unit, while this year we are trying to go man-oriented and pick up our references.
We want to get a lot of players into the final 25 metres and, obviously, when you do that, you have to concede something to the opponent. We’re working on this and I’m very satisfied.
Lazio’s Attacking Option
Gattuso admitted that one of his strikers would have to make way for a new signing in attack due to the net-zero restrictions.
We have a liquidity index problem and before bringing in a striker, someone has to leave. I have to say that both Dia and Ratkov, as well as Artistico before his injury, have done well. Given the way we want to play, I’m looking for a player who is functional to this team, but that takes nothing away from the professionalism and ability of the strikers we already have.
I have spoken to them and they know that I have nothing against them. We are looking for a certain type of player and we’ll see if we can bring him in, but we also have to respect the players we already have. They can also give us a hand.
Gattuso Praises Mauro Icardi
This admission brought up a question about Icardi, who is currently a free agent and is being linked to Lazio.
Mauro is a player who has written his name into football history; he’s a goalscorer. Here too, we have to see whether he is functional or not. I don’t feel like talking about it today. We need a player with pace, intensity and, obviously, someone who puts the ball in the net.
But he has to be a complete player. We’re not simply looking for a goalscorer. We want a player who can help us move up the pitch and attack space in behind.
Gattuso Happy With Frattesi Reunion
Gattuso expressed his satisfaction with the imminent arrival of Davide Frattesi, who will complete a transfer from Inter Milan in the coming hours.
Davide is a player I have worked with and, in my opinion, he could do well with us. He has very specific characteristics. I’m a coach, not an accountant, and I hope he arrives. Then we’ll see. If he comes or not, we’ll talk about it afterwards. He is certainly a player who can give us a huge amount of help.
Lazio’s Objective This Season
The former Napoli and Italy head coach reiterated his desire to give Lazio a certain identity, considering it the main objective of the season.
Objective? To give the team an identity and do what we want to do. Then we’ll see what we can achieve. There’s no point talking today about Europe or finishing 10th. I hear that the environment is, understandably, very critical of us, and we have to be good enough to change that perception. We have only one path: work, commitment and self-respect.
The Italian Wound
Finally, Gattuso described his failure to guide Italy to the World Cup as a wound he’ll carry for the rest of his days.
That is a wound that will close when they sing the last song for me and I cry, on the final day of my existence. Afterwards, obviously, you have to move forward. They are scars that will never go away. I carry it inside me; there is a lot of bitterness and regret.
Both I and the players who were with me know that we gave everything. The important thing is not to have regrets about things we could have done better, and we don’t have that. The wound will always be there.
