Gattuso wants Lazio to take their six-game form to Juventus without fear
Lazio have five more points than Juventus after six Serie A games, but Gennaro Gattuso says the gap in the table does not change his view of the teams’ relative…
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Lazio have five more points than Juventus after six Serie A games, but Gennaro Gattuso says the gap in the table does not change his view of the teams’ relative strength. His instruction for Sunday is to respect Juventus without letting that respect turn into caution.
“On paper they are stronger than us, but we have to take them on,” Gattuso said at his pre-match press conference. He wants Lazio to travel to Turin with courage, against what he called a great team, rather than concede the contest before it begins.
The challenge comes with Lazio on 16 points from six matches and level with Inter at the top of the table. Juventus have 11. That is a strong start for Lazio, but Gattuso was careful not to treat it as proof that his team have already matched Juventus in quality. His focus, he said, is on a longer process: “We have a journey to make and we have to improve match after match.”
The standings could shift before Lazio kick off. Inter visit Bologna at 18:00 CEST on Saturday, while Roma, two points behind Lazio, host Genoa at 20:45. Both can add to their totals ahead of Sunday’s match, which starts at 20:45 in Turin.
Gattuso also confirmed that Pellegrini has been restored to the squad list and will travel with the team. He said the club made that decision, but would not discuss selection contests, arguing that doing so could give Juventus an advantage.
The coach also addressed criticism of his career, saying he had not always been judged honestly. He said he now enjoys coaching more than playing and sees himself as a different coach from when he started, while still having more to learn. Difficult periods, he added, have to be accepted and followed by continued work.
That outlook frames Lazio’s next test. Their points total puts them among the early leaders, but Gattuso is asking for more than a strong position in October: he wants a performance that shows Lazio can play on their terms against an opponent he considers stronger on paper.
