Coppa Italia eliminate Lazio after losing 0-2 defeat to serie B side Mantova. After losing several chances on August 06 2026, they conceded in the 75th minute before being punished on the counterattack. The Gennaro Gattuso era began with a blow that only fueled further skepticism toward him.

Eight Serie A matches later, the narrative has shifted: 7 wins, 1 draw, 0 losses, 16 goals scored, and only 5 conceded. They are now contending for the top spot in the league alongside Inter Milan—marking the best start in Lazio’s Serie A history.

Gattuso did not blame anyone. “I take full responsibility,” he stated. He acknowledged that Lazio had played with a lack of conviction and aggression, allowing their opponents too much space. His critique was precise: the issue wasn’t just finishing, but how the team controlled the game. But can he prove for the next few months to change Lazio’s position to the highest level in Italy Serie A? Well you can see their news and predict them into w88 before the match while they are still improving skills in Serie B.

After losing the Serie A table, what Gattuso thinks are training intensity, discipline, and belief in a new approach. After defeating Udinese in the third round, he noted that the players were beginning to trust in what they were building. It was not an overnight transformation, but rather a process that would soon be put to the test in competitive play.

Gattuso Cannot Be Defined by a Single Failure

The doubts surrounding Gattuso are not without basis. He failed to lead Italy to the 2026 World Cup, falling to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the play-off final. His club has also been a rollercoaster after several brief and underwhelming stints.

Actually, what happened in August 2026 does not represent his failure, labeling him with failure ignores what he did in 2020. Gattuso  led Napoli to 2020 Coppa Italia title. The other team like AC Milan and other clubs were not consistent that season.

Let’s learn from Lazio, their current form demonstrates that a coach’s past record doesn’t automatically dictate his compatibility with a new squad and environment. Their base structure is 4-3-3 but seems different when they are in possession. The two full-backs push into the central areas, while defensive midfielder Reda Belahyane drops between the two center-backs. Another midfielder manages the circulation of the ball, while his partner surges into the space around the forwards. The result resembles a 3-3-4 formation, with more players threatening the opponent’s defensive line.

The key lies in positional rotation. Kenneth Taylor may drop deep to assist with ball progression, Davide Frattesi attacks space inside the penalty area, Nuno Tavares provides range and movement along the flanks, and Mattia Zaccagni exploits depth. Players do not merely occupy fixed positions; rather, they interchange roles to create advantages in terms of space and numerical superiority.

The 3–0 victory away at Juventus (October 18) served as the most compelling demonstration of this. First scoring from Oliver Provstgaard corner kick, then Gustan Isaksen left-footed shot doubled their led and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru as their final solo counter-attack. The three goals came from different scenarios, rather than a single, repetitive attacking pattern.

At that time, Lazio adjusted their build-up play to bypass Juventus’s press. At certain stages, Christos Mandas acted as a third player in the defensive line, a role later assumed by Belahyane. While this approach carried risks—leaving Lazio’s defenders in one-on-one duels at the back—it successfully allowed them to break the press and exploit the spaces left behind by Juventus.

Familiar Players, New Roles

Lazio’s productivity does not rely on a single goalscorer. Mattia Zaccagni, Tijjani Noslin, and Nuno Tavares recorded 4 goals contributions while Frattesi has tallied three after eight matches. Those facts demonstrate that challenges can originate from anywhere.

Gattuso has shown the boldness to reshape the team’s hierarchy. From Italian newspaper, La Gazzetta dello Sport, see that Noslin has been entrusted with the center-forward role.  Belahyane is increasingly proving his worth as a deep-lying playmaker, while Tavares has returned to his explosive form. Gattuso’s success stems from his ability to identify the right function for the players at his disposal.

Gattuso is known for his tough approach. Noslin once recounted how the *allenatore* would shout and even break objects in the dressing room during half-time team talks. Gattuso himself describes his management style as being like a “martello”—a hammer. Yet, *La Gazzetta* also emphasizes his focus on dialogue, clear communication, and fair treatment.

It is said that Gattuso once turned down the chance to sign Mauro Icardi, having already committed to a plan centered around Pinamonti and Albert Gudmundsson. For Gattuso, maintaining the trust of his players can be more important than bringing in a bigger name. This suggests that Lazio’s success is not merely a matter of tactics on a whiteboard, but also hinges on the coach’s credibility within the dressing room.