Lazio Winger Admits He’s Not an ‘Ideal’ Captain, Recalls ‘Exceptional’ Felipe Anderson
Although he donned the armband in Naples, Gustav Isaksen feels he’s not fully ready to become the first captain at Lazio.
Gustav Isaksen Has Become a Key Player at Lazio
The 25-year-old has been in spectacular form, producing four goals and an assist in his last six outings for the Biancocelesti. The winger will be hoping to carry his form throughout the international break, as Denmark prepare to play Portugal away from home Saturday, before hosting Norway on Tuesday in their final UEFA Nations League group-stage matches.
The Strong Bond with Oliver Provstgaard
Isaksen isn’t the only Lazio representative in the Danish camp, as he’s also accompanied by Oliver Provstgaard. In an interview with Bold (via Il Messaggero), the winger delved into his special relationship with his younger compatriot.
I owe a lot to Oliver, a trusted friend of mine. We’ve helped each other out; he found me a house and an Italian teacher, and we often go to the cinema together. He remained humble during his first year, patiently waiting for his opportunity, and he deserved it. He’s now performing fantastically. Nobody knew him or Vejle, but today he’s a pillar of the senior national team.
Isaksen on Meeting Respectful Roma Fans
The former Midtjylland player has been at Lazio since 2023, and he’s been cherishing his time in the Italian capital. He even enjoys his encounters with Roma supporters.
I love the city and visit it frequently. Rome is beautiful, and every day people stop me to ask for photographs or autographs. Even Roma supporters do so. I feel there’s always a great deal of respect.
Isaksen Lauds Gennaro Gattuso: The Coach & The Person
Isaksen reserved special praise for Gennaro Gattuso, who steered the team to the top of the table, lauding his coaching style and human values.
He has had an incredible impact on me, on the regular starters, on those who failed to perform last season and on the entire environment. He gave us what I would describe as an almost magical boost, a change of gear. The group is now united. The manager says he has mellowed with age. If that’s the case, I can’t imagine what he must have been like as a player! He’s a volcano, but at the same time, he has a big heart. I’ve never had such demanding training sessions. The idea is to go into matches with plenty of energy. Honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever been in better shape throughout my career.
Isaksen Thinks He’s Ill-Suited for Captaincy
With Lazio captain Mattia Zaccagni ruled out with injury, and Adam Marusic and Danilo Cataldi starting on the bench, Isaksen wore the armband in Sunday’s 1-1 draw against Napoli, as he was the most senior player in the starting lineup. However, the Dane admits he lacks the required characteristics to be considered an ideal captain.
After the operation I underwent this summer, I wasn’t fit enough to play in the opening match. Since then, I’ve felt like I’m flying on the pitch, and in Naples I even wore the captain’s armband. I would never have imagined it. It had only happened to me for one day with Denmark’s Under-17s. Captaining such an important team is a dream, although I’m not exactly the ideal person to be captain. There are many ways to take responsibility, including playing with great courage. Communication and strong leadership aren’t exactly my strongest qualities.
Lazio’s Season Objectives
Even with the Aquile sitting at the Serie A summit, Isaksen rules out playing for the Scudetto. He is instead targetting Champions League qualification, an objective he deems more realistic.
There’s no point talking about the Scudetto; it’s premature. My realistic, albeit very difficult, ambition is to play in the Champions League with Lazio.
Felipe Anderson Guided Isaksen On and Off the Pitch
During his first season at the club, Isaksen was vying for a starting role on the right flank with Felipe Anderson. However, he was stunned by the Brazilian’s demeanour, as he took him under his wing and helped him develop his faith.
When I arrived, Felipe was my direct rival for a place in the team, but he was literally exceptional towards me. I could hardly believe that someone competing against me for a starting spot would care so much about me and always be willing to help, both on and off the pitch. When I asked him why he had welcomed me so warmly, he told me about his faith and how it had helped him in his everyday life. So he gave me a Bible and encouraged me to read it. I had never done so before, even though my family is very religious. Everyone should read it. It helped me discover the deeper meaning of things, as well as the firm conviction that something exists which is more important than ourselves and our own egos.
Anderson left Lazio in the summer of 2024 as a free agent. But while he had an offer from Juventus, he opted to return to Brazil and sign for Palmeiras, where he remains active at the age of 33.
