Gattuso concerned about long break at Lazio

Gennaro Gattuso expressed concerns about the upcoming break for Lazio, stating, "The adrenaline drops, and we can’t let the temperature fall." He highlighted his experiences during a previous break in December when he was at Valencia, describing it as "strange" and emphasizing the importance of maintaining momentum.

Following a 2-0 friendly win over Arezzo, Gattuso took the opportunity to experiment with his squad while deflecting credit for Lazio’s remarkable start to the season. Lazio now sits joint top of the Serie A table with 13 points from five matches, marking its best-ever start.

Gattuso defended his choice to pair Andrea Pinamonti and Tijjani Noslin in the attack, explaining that it was one of the solutions worth trying. He noted, "We’ve come off two days of important work. There’s a desire and mentality that must never be lacking. It never has, and I hope it never will be; if we are where we are, it’s due to our willingness to work and to suffer."

He also praised the academy players for their contributions in friendly matches, stating, "These friendlies are important, but a match is a match. Compliments also to the Primavera lads who came on. In defense, we have four center-backs who work seriously, with humility and desire. Now it’s up to me to make as few mistakes as possible."

Gattuso's unease stemmed from the length of the shutdown and its potential impact on fitness and form. He noted, "It was appropriate for them to rest; today’s result didn’t interest me. We managed the lads’ minutes. It’s strange, and we hope not to pay the price."

In terms of injuries, Gattuso reported a quadriceps issue for Cataldi, which will undergo evaluation soon. He confirmed that Dele-Bashiru will return to the group next week, and that Marusic has shown considerable improvement, with Rovella starting low-intensity running work.