Lazio coach Gennaro Gattuso declared that he was not a "run away from home" and that he faced criticism with the same determination with which he leads the team. In his speech, he underlined how his coaching career had been "positive" and that he had learned a lot from past experiences, especially after the failure of the World Cup and the controversies that accompanied it. Gattuso reiterated that Lazio are now top of the table, but asked the players to focus on their daily work rather than the final result, recalling that the team must "live day by day".
The context for this statement is Lazio's recent victory, which reached first position in a season in which the club had to overcome numerous obstacles. Gattuso acknowledged the difficulties of playing in a stadium where fans are not always present, but motivated the team not to fear the pressure and to continue to surprise. He also commented on the match against Monza, highlighting the need to improve the management of the second half and not to be overwhelmed by the opponents.
During the meeting with the players, Gattuso expressed frustration with Milan's performance and asked the players to maintain a constant pace. He mentioned the difficulty of managing the result and reiterated that the team must "always go at a thousand miles per hour". Furthermore, he praised midfielder Belahyane for his responsibility and tactical intelligence, but suggested that the player should look further forward to become complete.
The coach also spoke about the importance of a hug with the player Pinamonti, underlining that it is normal for the young man to be angry with himself or with Gattuso. He expressed hope that Pinamonti will find his way and have confidence in his ability to contribute to the team's success.
Finally, Gattuso announced that Lazio will face Juventus away, describing the match as a "test bed" against a very strong team coached by a great coach. The coach invited the players to be ready to demonstrate their strength and to continue to build on what is now the first position in the table.