Gattuso: I realised I had to change myself before asking players to change

Gennaro Gattuso, SS Lazio's coach, spoke about the evolution of his coaching style and how he interacts with players after the big win against Juventus by three goals to nil in Turin. He emphasized that he has learned from his past experiences that success does not solely depend on strictness, but also requires understanding the mentality of the players and adapting to their needs.

Gattuso said: "At the beginning of my career, I didn't understand the way new players think, and I used to get very angry, until I realized that I had to change myself."

He added that changing his approach has helped him build a cohesive group, noting that the team has become like one family, while adhering to the principles he believes in.

Despite the big win over Juventus, the Italian coach warned against overcelebrating the results, saying: "We are not used to being there (at the top), and perhaps we are not ready yet," referring to the need to maintain focus and continue working, away from the pressures that high expectations may impose.

Gattuso's statements reveal an important aspect of his development as a coach; he has not abandoned his strong personality and well-known passion, but he has learned how to balance strictness with giving players confidence and freedom.

Instead of demanding his players to change on their own, he began by changing his approach first, a message that reflects that true leadership is not just about imposing one's personality, but about understanding others and extracting the best from them.