Gattuso praises Lazio mentality after Arezzo friendly win
Lazio manager Gennaro Gattuso says his squad's willingness to work hard and accept fatigue could bring significant rewards this season. Speaking after a 2-0 friendly victory over Arezzo on 27 September 2026, the coach credited his players for the strong start to the 2026-2027 campaign.
"If we are where we are, it's because there's a desire to work and suffer," Gattuso told the club's official channels. "The compliments for the start of the season? They should go to the boys."
What the match showed
The match, played behind closed doors at the Stadio Mirko Fersini in Formello, served to maintain match fitness during the international break. Andrea Pinamonti opened the scoring in the first minute, before defender Diogo Leite doubled the lead early in the second half.
Gattuso deployed a 4-2-3-1 formation, giving minutes to squad players and youngsters. Among them, young goalkeeper Edoardo Motta impressed with several decisive saves to keep a clean sheet. The coach also noted the developing partnership between Leite and Danilho Doekhi at the back.
Eight first-team players were absent on international duty, with others sidelined through injury.
The challenge of the calendar
The former Valencia and Napoli boss highlighted an unusual aspect of the schedule: a 20-day gap between competitive fixtures due to international call-ups.
"It's strange and we hope not to pay a penalty," Gattuso admitted. "It's never happened before and we have to be clever to do as little damage as possible. When you stop for 20 days the adrenaline drops — we have to be clever not to let the temperature fall."
He referenced a similar experience during his time at Valencia, when the World Cup in Qatar created a lengthy mid-season interruption.
Strong start to the season
The friendly result builds on an encouraging opening in Serie A. After five matchdays, Lazio sit third in the table with 13 points, having won four and drawn one. The unbeaten run has featured eight goals scored and only three conceded.
Key performers include captain Mattia Zaccagni, midfielder Davide Frattesi — the team's top scorer with three goals — and goalkeeper Christos Mandas, who has kept three clean sheets and saved a penalty.
New arrivals have integrated quickly. Andrea Pinamonti and Albert Gudmundsson, both brought in by Gattuso, are already contributing. Full-back Nuno Tavares earned high praise, with the manager saying he is "worthy of playing for Real Madrid."
What comes next
Despite the strong start, some analysts remain cautious about Lazio's prospects. Predictions models do not currently place the Rome club among the favourites for a Champions League spot.
For supporters, the immediate concern is how the team returns from the extended break. The match against Mantova, which Gattuso described as a "surprise" in terms of intensity and lessons learned, showed that half-measures will not suffice.
"If we want to achieve certain things, there's no middle way because we've already paid the price," Gattuso said. "The team arrives here with a smile, accepts the hard work, and if this atmosphere remains, we can achieve many satisfactions."
