Gennaro Gattuso says Lazio must improve their defensive organisation and learn to control matches after taking advantage of Sassuolo’s dismissal in a 6-2 Serie A victory on Tuesday.
Lazio remain unbeaten at the start of the league season and recorded their eighth win in nine away matches against Sassuolo.
Kenneth Taylor put the visitors ahead after two minutes, but Kristian Thorstvedt equalised seven minutes later. Lazio then took control before half-time, with Gustav Isaksen, Romano Floriani Mussolini and Sebastiano Esposito all finding the net.
Mattia Zaccagni and Tijjani Noslin added further goals after the interval. Zaccagni and Davide Frattesi also had penalties saved by Sassuolo goalkeeper Stefano Turati, meaning Lazio could have scored eight.
However, Gattuso was not entirely satisfied with his side’s performance, particularly when they were required to defend without the ball or manage the game after taking the lead.
“The thing I will take from this is the mentality,” Gattuso said after the final whistle.
“When we are not being aggressive, we have to learn how to block defensively. Sassuolo are a very dangerous side and we weren’t very good on that front. It helped that they were down to 10 men.
“But, when we work and link well, we make it difficult for our opponents. We’re not looking at the standings, otherwise we’ll get vertigo. We’re taking things game by game.”
The result extended Lazio’s unbeaten run to nine Serie A matches, but Gattuso rejected the idea that his team could continue indefinitely without defeat.
“I’m superstitious, but we also have to look at reality,” he said. “If we think about trying to manage the game or see it out, we start finding it difficult.
“We have to go and keep creating the situations that we are creating. We haven’t had any kicks in the teeth yet, so we’ll see when it happens. There’s only one way to go about it and that is by working hard.”
Gattuso also responded to praise from former Lazio head coach Simone Inzaghi, who had spoken positively about him over the weekend.
“I’m pleased and I thank him,” said Gattuso. “His Lazio were a very strong side. They were annoying, I remember them well. I thank Simone, it was an honour for me. If he says it, it’s great for me and for the team.”
