Gattuso turns Italian football on its head with historic start at Lazio

Italian coach Gennaro Gattuso has made a remarkable transformation with SS Lazio, leading them to the best start in the club's history in Serie A, an unprecedented achievement that silenced the criticisms he faced during his coaching career and placed the capital team at the top of the competition's standings.

Gennaro Gattuso took over as manager of SS Lazio last June, after failing to lead the Italian national team to qualification for the FIFA World Cup 2026. However, he quickly succeeded in changing the team's image, which currently sits at the top of Serie A with 28 points from a possible 30, having achieved nine victories and one draw. This puts them three points ahead of Inter and makes them one of the main contenders for the league title.

The Italian coach's path to success was not easy, as he took over a team suffering from a decline in results and a loss of confidence. He began his journey with an exit from the Coppa Italia against Mantova, a competitor in Serie B. However, he responded to that difficult start by imposing strict discipline and a new work culture, focusing on collective spirit and physical and tactical commitment.

Gennaro Gattuso has maintained the 4-3-3 formation established by former coach Maurizio Sarri, but he has made significant changes to the team's style, implementing high pressing, man-marking, and raising the defensive line, alongside relying on vertical attacks and exploiting spaces instead of passive possession and ineffective passing.

The Portuguese Nuno Tavares has been one of the main beneficiaries of this shift, having become a key player on the left flank, scoring one goal and assisting three in the league. Mattia Zaccagni has also benefited from greater freedom to move forward, with the team captain achieving two goals and five assists.

Davide Frattesi has successfully carved out a prominent role within the team, having found the space he lacked at Milan. He has taken advantage of his ability to advance from midfield and reach the penalty area, scoring three goals so far.

SS Lazio's success does not rely on the brilliance of specific names, as Gattuso has managed to build a cohesive team. Twelve different players have scored during the first ten rounds, while the team has netted 24 goals and conceded only eight, achieving the best defensive record in the competition.

After ten rounds, SS Lazio are still the only team unbeaten in Serie A, leaving Gennaro Gattuso with a genuine opportunity to compete for the title, having previously stated at the start of the season that reaching 40 points was his primary goal to ensure survival.