MILAN (Reuters) – Napoli’s coach Gennaro Gattuso is usually associated with grit and determination, but the famous combative former midfielder says possession of the ball and patience have been the key to reviving his team in recent months.
FILE PHOTO: Soccer football – Champions League – Round of 16 first leg – Napoli – FC Barcelona – Stadio San Paolo, Naples, Italy – February 25, 2020 Napoli coach Gennaro Gattuso reacts to REUTERS / Guglielmo Mangiapane
The 43-year-old who coaches his second Serie A club is generally seen as a motivator rather than a tactician, largely due to the fearsome reputation he has built as a player.
However, this perception is slowly changing as Gattuso adopts a football style that seemed like another sport to him during his season.
“The first time I played Spanish teams that played it (possession of the ball) it made my head spin,” he said after his team’s 3-1 home win over SPAL on Sunday.
“I used to push them alone and they put me in the middle and passed the ball around. When I finished the game, I would say that we played a different sport in Italy. I suffered in these games. ”
Gattuso, who inherited a Napoli team in disarray in December, now sees things differently.
“Football has changed in Italy and there are many teams that pass the ball on well,” he said. “I see football differently now than I did then – I want us to have possession of the ball and not to take any risks.”
Despite his new attitude, Gattuso still attaches great importance to work ethic.
“You need continuity, you have to work hard during the week and the game is a result of that,” he said. “The way we have to go is the one we started this month after the ban.”
Napoli, who won their last five league games and defeated Juventus in the Coppa Italia final, will visit a rampant team from Atalanta on Thursday who have won their last six Serie A games, scoring 21 goals.
Atalanta is also the most productive Serie A team with 80 goals
Although neither team is chasing the title, with Atalanta fourth and Napoli sixth, it promises to be the highlight of match day 29, which is split into three days.
The games begin on Tuesday with the leading pair Juventus and Lazio away.
Juve, who is four points ahead of the ninth title in a row, visits Genoa while Lazio travels to Turin. Third-placed Inter Milan welcomes Brescia on Wednesday.
Written by Brian Homewood; Edited by Ken Ferris
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