Lazio manager Gennaro Gattuso has expressed his satisfaction with his team’s reaction following their 1-1 Serie A draw against Napoli at the Maradona. Despite seeing their impressive run of six consecutive league victories come to an end, Gattuso was pleased with the disappointment shown by his players, viewing it as a sign of significant mental progress.
“I like that the team is disappointed today,” Gattuso told DAZN, as quoted by LaLazioSiamoNoi. He added that the reaction in the dressing room, which he described as being “like a morgue”, demonstrated how far his side’s mentality has developed. Lazio remain unbeaten after 11 games and currently sit at the top of the Serie A table.
Match Overview
Lazio initially took the lead through Davide Frattesi, who scored his fourth goal of the season. However, Napoli found an equaliser early in the second half when substitute Alfonso Pedraza inadvertently turned the ball into his own net. The visitors then relied on several crucial saves from goalkeeper Christos Mandas to secure a point from the challenging encounter.
Gattuso acknowledged the difficulty of playing at Napoli’s ground against a strong team. He praised his side’s first-half performance, noting that while Napoli pushed them back in the second period, this was to be expected. “We played a great first half, and in the early part of the second they pinned us back, but that was to be expected,” he stated.
Player Performances and Injuries
The Lazio coach singled out Davide Frattesi for his attacking runs into the box, despite noting the midfielder’s tendency to get overly fixated on having the ball at his feet. Gattuso also commended Tijjani Noslin, who provided the assist for Frattesi’s opener, for his intense pressing and improved discipline.
The draw, however, came at a cost for Lazio, as both Josip Šutalo and Nuno Tavares sustained injuries during the match. Šutalo was withdrawn in the first half due to a muscular problem, while Tavares was replaced at half-time. Both players are expected to be assessed during the upcoming international break.
League Standings and Future Focus
The result leaves Lazio at the summit of Serie A with 29 points, maintaining a two-point lead over second-placed Roma. Despite their strong position, Gattuso urged his team not to focus on the league table at this stage of the season. “We mustn’t look at it. Now we recover,” he insisted, emphasising the need to take each day as it comes and continue to accumulate points.
Gattuso concluded by highlighting the courage and mentality shown by his players. “Today we showed courage again. We suffered, and we knew they’d put us in difficulty. We accepted that, and that’s mentality,” he said, reinforcing his belief that the team’s current focus should be on performance and banking points rather than their league standing.