Lazio head coach Gennaro Gattuso was pleased with the character displayed by his players as they turned things around against Cagliari.
The Biancocelesti now find themselves alone at the top of the Serie A table, taking full advantage of Inter Milan's Derby defeat to AC Milan on Saturday. However, their Sunday meeting with Cagliari was far from smooth sailing, as the visitors stunned the Stadio Olimpico home crowd by scoring the opener in the 20th minute.
Watch: Isaksen & Pinamonti Complete Lazio Comeback Against Cagliari – The Highlights
Luckily for the Aquile, Gustav Isaksen pulled off a sensational equaliser before the break, while Andrea Pinamonti came off the bench to head home a late winner, securing a victory that will live long in the memories of the Biancocelesti supporters.
In his post-match press conference (via La Lazio Siamo Noi ), Gattuso expressed his delight with his players, who refused to settle for anything less than a win.
They surprised me. Honestly, I would have taken a point and would even have been happy with that. It was the players who wanted to win at all costs. The substitutions gave us energy, intensity and desire.Four days ago, Roma played Cagliari here, and they had nine scoring opportunities. I knew they would play like that, but we weren't good enough. We needed to do better down the right flank, and we managed that in the second half, creating more opportunities. Those who came on made a huge difference.If we won, it's thanks to the players' mentality, desire and spirit. They did everything to win.
The Lazio manager reiterated his desire to reach the 40-point mark before contemplating bigger objectives.
The league table doesn't matter much; we're still 12 points away from our objective. Had we failed to win today, we would all still be in the same position. We cannot afford any mistakes. We have to take it one game at a time and try to do something different.There are some very well-prepared teams and coaches who have made things difficult for us, and we were struggling physically. We paid the price for that, but we did well to stay in the game and put in a great mental effort.
Five days after hailing him as a 'fantastic' player, Gattuso was once again left in awe by Kenneth Taylor, who produced another all-round performance.
I still have Taylor's performance in my mind. He stopped two counterattacks and then turned defence into attack to create a goalscoring opportunity. I always remind the players, who spend their time browsing the internet and reading things online, that hard work pays off, and that's how it should be.I also played a lot, and I always wanted to be consistent. When you are consistent, your teammates turn you into a leader.If people have embraced the team in this way today, it's because we are working well. You reap what you sow. That's what makes me most proud at the moment, not the league table. These are players who give everything for their teammates.
The 48-year-old admitted that Nuno Tavares, Reda Belahyane, and Oliver Provstgaard weren't at their best on Sunday, hence why he replaced them in the second half.
I have great respect for the players, but we want to achieve certain things, and it's normal to have an off day. At that moment, I felt it was right to bring on some fresh legs. We weren't hurting the opposition; in fact, we were struggling to get to the second balls.Belahyane didn't have a great game today, but these things happen, and that's fine. Cataldi could have given us something more. Nuno didn't have his best performance, Zac took a knock, and Provstgaard struggled…If I make these decisions, it's because I have players who are ready and give me the confidence to put them on the pitch. In these three matches, I've taken some risks by starting almost the same players every time. It's understandable that we might pay the price for that. That's how I saw it.
Player Ratings: Lazio 2-1 Cagliari – Isaksen Punishes The Islanders
Lazio captain Mattia Zaccagni gave the fans a scare as he left the pitch clutching his calf. Gattuso revealed that the winger chose to play despite losing his uncle on Saturday.
As for Zaccagni, he took a knock and wasn't running freely. I preferred to take him off to avoid taking any risks. He has shown himself to be a tremendous professional.He suffered a bereavement last night, as his uncle, to whom he was very close, passed away. That tells you what kind of player I'm coaching. They're giving absolutely everything.
The 2006 World Cup winner opened up about the family atmosphere at Formello, revealing how everyone at the club was in a state of mourning after August's shocking Coppa Italia elimination at the hands of Mantova.
I don't read much. I've shut myself away inside Formello since the first day. What I've sensed from my staff is that there are people here who are giving their lives for this club. There are many genuine Lazio supporters at the training ground. It's a family. These are people who celebrate when things go well and suffer when things don't.When we lost to Mantova, it felt like a funeral. I held a meeting with everyone and told them that you mourn the dead when it's time to mourn, that something serious had happened, but we had to continue with the same enthusiasm we had during pre-season.From the very first day, the team have worked incredibly hard, with a tremendous sense of belonging. It feels as though we've all known each other for years. I didn't know what was happening outside the club; I only knew that we couldn't expect applause after losing in the Coppa Italia.I've simply worked with my players, trying to do something different and dismantling what was done last year. The players are the main architects of everything that's happening. All the credit belongs to them.
Finally, Gattuso paid tribute to the Lazio supporters, thanking the crowds who have been gradually returning to the stadium, while hoping that the organised fan groups would follow suit by ending their boycott .
When you see what the fans did before the Milan match, then before Parma, and against Sassuolo… On Tuesday, the stadium felt like a Scudetto celebration, with 12,000 people in attendance. There were 13,000 here today, and their numbers are growing.For me, it's something incredible. Anyone who comes to the stadium at this moment is a hero. I love these things. I live for this. I live my life to experience that tingling sensation in my stomach, because that's when I can make a difference. I've always lived this way.I'm happy that we're bringing joy to everyone. I've witnessed three or four incredible occasions first-hand. There's tremendous passion and desire here. Their biggest problem is that they're consistent, and it's difficult to make them change their minds. We simply have to keep going.
