Gennaro Gattuso has never been one for half measures. The man who once snarled his way to World Cup glory and bossed the midfield with sheer bloody wi...
Gennaro Gattuso has never been one for half measures. The man who once snarled his way to World Cup glory and bossed the midfield with sheer bloody willpower now faces perhaps his most nuanced test yet: turning Lazio into a cohesive, aggressive unit without losing the flair that makes them dangerous. Early signs from Formello suggest the new boss is already making his preferences clear, and for two wingers in particular, the message is one of absolute faith.According to sources close to GoalZaza, Gattuso has identified Gustav Isaksen and Mattia Zaccagni as his primary creative outlets on the flanks. This is no small vote of confidence for Isaksen, a player who blew hot and cold under Maurizio Sarri. The Danish winger has the raw materials to terrify full backs: pace that can stretch a low block, a willingness to run at defenders, and an eye for a cutback. But consistency has been his curse. Gattuso, however, looks set to hand him the keys to the left channel, trusting that a consistent run of starts will unlock the clinical finishing that has too often eluded him.Zaccagni, by contrast, is a known quantity in the capital. His work rate and ability to pop up in half spaces make him the ideal wide man for a Gattuso side that demands relentless pressing from the front. The Italian international will be tasked with providing the defensive solidity on one flank while Isaksen roams with more freedom on the other. It is a clever balance, one that hints at tactical flexibility rather than the rigid, all out aggression that defined Gattuso's earlier coaching stints. The question is whether this pair can carry the creative burden while Ciro Immobile continues his slow evolution into a deeper, more cerebral striker.Then there is the matter of Matteo Cancellieri. The young forward, who showed glimpses of promise during a loan spell at Genoa, now finds himself surplus to requirements. GoalZaza understands that Brentford are sniffing around, and the prospect of a move to West London could suit all parties. Cancellieri needs regular minutes to develop his game, and Thomas Frank's data driven setup at the Brentford Community Stadium has a habit of polishing raw diamonds. For Lazio, a sale would generate funds to reinvest in a squad that still feels a centre back and a midfield enforcer short of true Scudetto contention. It is a pragmatic move, and Gattuso has never been one to sentimentalise his squad.Will this faith in Isaksen and Zaccagni pay dividends The early tactical signs are encouraging. Gattuso wants his wide players to invert and create overloads in central areas, a system that relies heavily on the full backs providing width. If Adam Marusic and Luca Pellegrini can bomb forward without leaving the backline exposed, Lazio could become a nightmare to handle in transitional play. But if the defence remains as porous as it was under Sarri, all the attacking trust in the world will count for nothing. The stage is set for a fascinating summer at the Stadio Olimpico, and Gattuso's first big calls are already ringing out loud and clear.
