Venezia-Lazio 0-0, sides take to the field for the fifth round of Serie A
GOALS and KEY MOMENTS
17': Venezia miss a penalty kick. Lazio goalkeeper Mandas saves Yeboah's shot
LIVE MATCH REPORT
MATCH PREVIEW
Eyes on the pitch, without letting anything or anyone serve as a distraction. This is the request Gennaro Gattuso made to his Lazio side ahead of the clash against Venezia which, taking advantage of the big match between Roma and Inter, could allow the Biancocelesti to head into the international break at the top of the standings, albeit not alone. For this reason, the Lazio manager wanted to make clear that, in the away fixture against Stroppa's side, his players must not "fall into the trap of arrogance – we mustn't think we've suddenly become great. A month ago everyone was saying we needed to stay up, and we made fools of ourselves against Mantova," he also stressed that against Venezia "it will be a tough match against a side that deserved to pick up some points, but we need to build on the second half we played against Milan. Right now we must not make the mistake of being presumptuous – if we've gotten to where we are, it's because we've had the hunger to play as a team and keep our heads down."
There is no room, therefore, for thoughts unrelated to the pitch and to their own team's performance. Not even those linked to the investigation into the alleged scheme against Lotito aimed at forcing the president to sell the club; a matter which, Gattuso assures, will have no psychological impact on performances because "I want us to avoid talking about things that don't concern us. We need to prepare for matches by training – as long as the wages keep coming, we need to focus on doing our job," the Biancocelesti manager said curtly.
Against the Venetians, Gattuso will therefore look to resume the winning run interrupted by the draw against the Rossoneri, fielding the same starting eleven as the last home game at the Olimpico and counting on the backing of the fans, who will continue to support their favourites away from home. On the subject of the supporters, Gattuso also wanted to "apologise to those who were at the stadium" for the Milan match because "I didn't thank them." But with the focus firmly on the pitch, the manager also finds time to dismiss the latest transfer rumour, regarding the possible arrival of Mauro Icardi. A scenario that does not exist, Gattuso reiterates, because "no one questions his quality, but we made our choices earlier by signing Pinamonti and Gudmundsson. When you give your word to players, you can't then go back on it. I spoke about it with the president and the sporting director – it's right that we keep things as they are," he admits. A further demonstration of how Gattuso is banking on the group he has built since his arrival at Formello, and from which he now asks not to be distracted before the break, so they can enjoy the stoppage in a position that, just a month ago, not even the most optimistic of Lazio fans would have dared to imagine.
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