Lazio took the top of the table with a record 16 points in the first six matchdays, a result that had never been seen in the history of the club, not even in the championship seasons. The success put Gennaro Gattuso in the spotlight, and Tommaso Maestrelli's son Massimo shared his impressions of the new coach. In an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, Maestrelli praised Gattuso as an "extraordinary character, in love with his job", underlining how the obsessive care that the coach dedicates to individual players is reminiscent of the way in which his father managed the relationship with the players.
According to Maestrelli, Gattuso's Lazio not only has a solid character and a compact team environment, but also plays modern and beautiful football. “Everyone thinks of him as a coach who knows how to instill tenacity and determination in players,” he added, highlighting the coach's ability to motivate the team. Among the protagonists of the start, the young Frattesi was defined as a "top", while the defender Tavares was described as "incredible" at this level. Maestrelli also surprised positively with the action of Noslin and Belahyane, who showed a good level of play.
As for long-term objectives, Maestrelli advised caution, stating that "only between November and December will we have a clear idea of the real possibilities of this team". Despite the enthusiasm, he also expressed some concern about the Olimpico, which is not yet full due to the ongoing protest. “It's a real shame, because this team, with the contribution of all the fans, could take off,” he said, suggesting that “sometimes it wouldn't take much to come together.”
Finally, Maestrelli spoke about the dream of seeing the Flaminio, the old Lazio stadium, named after Tommaso Maestrelli. "It would be fantastic. For the city of Rome it would be essential to recover a facility like this. It would be nice if Lazio could play there again and wonderful if it bore my father's name", he concluded. With the team in the lead and a manager who demonstrates great passion and attention to detail, Lazio appear ready to continue their race to the top, although logistical hurdles and fan issues remain to be addressed in the coming months.