Gattuso looks ahead to Milan clash after Lazio beat Udinese: 'The club of my heart'
Quick summary
Lazio coach Gennaro Gattuso reflected on his side's win over Udinese and turned attention to an upcoming Serie A fixture against AC Milan, the club where he made his name as a player and later coached.
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Attributed to original sourceGennaro Gattuso has praised Lazio’s mentality after their dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over Udinese , while admitting he is already looking forward to facing his beloved Milan.
The Biancocelesti fell behind to Jesper Karlstrom’s second-half opener but responded with goals from Davide Frattesi and Albert Gudmundsson to secure all three points.
Gattuso was particularly impressed by his team’s reaction after their disappointing Coppa Italia defeat to Mantova in August and believes the players are adapting well to the changes he has introduced since taking charge.
“The mentality and the desire. We dismantled everything compared to last year, when there was a master of the 4-3-3, and we are trying to do something different,” Gattuso told Sky Sport, with quotes via TuttoMercatoWeb .
“The lads are doing things well. What we are trying to propose is not easy, but the team is alive.”
ROME, ITALY – AUGUST 16: SS Lazio head coach Gennaro Gattuso reacts during the Coppa Italia match between SS Lazio and Mantova 1911 at Stadio Olimpico on August 16, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images) Gattuso: ‘I have to thank Lotito and Fabiani’ The former Milan midfielder also credited President Claudio Lotito and sporting director Angelo Fabiani for their work in the transfer market, saying Lazio completed a campaign that had initially appeared unlikely.
“With great difficulty, we made a transfer market that we didn’t think we could make. I have to thank both him and Fabiani; they deserve enormous credit for the players who arrived.”
Gattuso will now prepare for an emotional meeting with Milan, the club where he spent 12 years as a player.
“As a child, I remember the parade after the Steaua game with my father. For me, it was always an honour and a dream that lasted 12 years,” he said.
“All the affection and joy cannot be forgotten, but today I have another job and on Sunday I hope to take points from the team of my heart.”
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What happened
Gattuso guided Lazio to a victory against Udinese in Serie A and used his post-match remarks to frame the next matchday. He openly acknowledged Milan's special place in his career, describing it as 'the club of my heart,' while making clear Lazio's intention to take points from the Rossoneri. The comments add a personal narrative layer to a high-profile league fixture. Milan sit as one of the traditional powerhouses in Italian football, and a result at the Olimpico would carry symbolic weight for the Lazio coach beyond the three points.
Chance analysis
Gattuso's emotional ties to Milan are well established, but the fact that he is publicly framing the upcoming fixture while still collecting results with Lazio speaks to where this Lazio side is mentally. Beating Udinese keeps momentum and confidence high heading into one of the most demanding matches on the calendar. For Milan, the subplot is unavoidable: their former midfielder and one-time coach will be in the opposing dugout, fully motivated. Tactically, Gattuso's Lazio have been hard to break down, and the Milan match will test whether that defensive solidity holds against a top-tier attack.
Lazio's win over Udinese boosts confidence and morale ahead of a symbolically charged home match against AC Milan.