Gattuso Takes Credit for Milan & Napoli Scudetti, Disagrees With Fabiani: “Not Right”

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The Laziali

·13 September 2026

Gattuso Takes Credit for Milan & Napoli Scudetti, Disagrees With Fabiani: “Not Right”

Lazio head coach Gennaro Gattuso wasn’t pleased with how his team dropped back during the second half against AC Milan.

Lazio Wasted Two-Goal Lead Against AC Milan

The Biancocelesti produced their best football of the season so far during the first 45 minutes. They headed to the interval with a two-goal lead thanks to Matteo Cancellieri and Tijjani Noslin, and could have added more. However, Ruben Amorim’s changes made the difference in the second period, particularly Diego Moreira, who scored twice in the space of minutes to earn a point for the visitors.

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Gennaro Gattuso Irritated by Second-Half Performance

In his post-match press conference (via Il Messaggero), Gattuso expressed his frustration with Lazio’s attitude after the break, feeling that his team was lucky to avoid defeat.

We risked being blown away. The feeling was that we could even concede a third and fourth goal. We dropped too deep, so I’ll take the draw. The thing that disappoints me most, although we had anticipated it, is that the team wasn’t able to stay focused and keep their legs going for 90 minutes. We had to defend as a unit. Half the team was going towards their reference points while the other half wanted to sit in a low block. I think we dropped too deep, and we suffered a lot because of it. We spent very little time in their half. We suffered because of their substitutions. But given our way of playing, we couldn’t maintain those frantic levels of intensity. It’s a shame, although in the end we also got a bit lucky. At 2-2, we were good at staying in the game.

Watch: Moreira Rescues a Point for Milan Against Lazio – The Highlights

Gattuso Believed He Played a Role in Milan & Napoli’s Scudetti

Interestingly, Gattuso took some credit for Milan’s 2021/22 Scudetto triumph under Stefano Pioli, as well as Napoli’s in 2022/23 with Luciano Spalletti, noting that he was the one to implement a fighting spirit in these teams during his tenures.

My history as a coach says one thing: I leave Milan and they win the league, I leave Napoli and they win the league. It’s not a coincidence. It means I left a certain mentality behind. I live for these things. I try to instil discipline and a culture of hard work. I think all the players recognise that about me, and it matters to me. Coming in earlier, doing individualised work, pushing yourself — that’s a great asset. When you’re dealing with good players, you try to get inside their heads. We’ve started this journey, and I have to thank them for the way they’re behaving. The credit is theirs because they strongly believe in what we’re doing.

Gattuso Distances Himself From Angelo Fabiani’s Objective

Gattuso’s contract includes a one-year automatic extension if Lazio finish in the Top 12 of the Serie A table. But before the game, the club’s sporting director, Angelo Fabiani, identified European qualification as the bare minimum. However, the Calabrian coach feels that these statements will evoke unwanted pressure.

I don’t want to create controversy, really. We already have enough pressure on our shoulders. Playing under the conditions we’re playing in isn’t easy. It’s not right for the director to say that the minimum objective is Europe. I don’t want to shirk responsibility, let me make that clear. Our objective is to take it one game at a time, and then we’ll take stock. I don’t agree when we say that the minimum objective is Europe. This isn’t a controversy. It’s pressure that we simply can’t afford at this moment.

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Gattuso Was Moved by Lazio Fans at Olimpico

While the organised Lazio fan groups continue to boycott the club’s home fixtures, they decided to accompany the team’s bus to the Stadio Olimpico on bikes and scooters.

It bothers them too not to come to the stadium. It hurts everyone not to be able to come here — that’s how I see it. You see six- or seven-year-old kids who have this fire inside them; God forbid you touch their team. I believe the fans also came because of what the players are transmitting, because they never give up and wear the shirt with pride. I got emotional today, I’m telling you the truth. Seeing elderly people come here to sing the chants was incredible. For me, football without fans is s**t. If stadiums are going to be empty, you’re better off going for a walk and taking the dogs out.

Why Andrea Pinamonti Struggled

Finally, Gattuso defended Andrea Pinamonti who had a forgettable second-half cameo, insisting that the striker wasn’t provided with proper support.

Maybe someone can tell me that Pinamonti hasn’t touched a ball since he came on, but I know from experience that it’s difficult to keep the ball when you’re three against one.