Tactically, Gennaro Gattuso said at a press conference in Formello what I say every Sunday in the dressing room. His Lazio travel to Turin on Sunday to face Juventus, they have 16 points after six games, they beat Monza last weekend, and what worries him is the blackouts. “We mustn’t have the 15 to 20-minute blackouts we keep having,” he said, in remarks carried by Football Italia.
15 to 20 minutes. I’ve noted it in my folder, on the team sheet page, just under the word “concentration” underlined twice. At my place, the blackout has a precise time: around a quarter to four, when two players look at their phones because the kids need picking up. I make the substitutions. The blackout stays.
The rest of his talk, I sign off on that too. Juventus can play with two, three or four forwards, they’ve changed a lot, they’ve scored three or four goals from crosses, they’re physical on set pieces and quick down the flanks. He won’t give his line-up so as not to help the opponent. That I’ve been doing for years: I never tell the opposing club delegate (the volunteer who runs matchday admin) a thing. Well, the folder stays open on the bench, but that’s another subject.
And there’s this line: “They are stronger than us, but I want to see a team that takes them on and trades blow for blow. Being afraid gets us nothing.” Before an away game, I say exactly that, except I add the pitch. He doesn’t mention it. That’s the difference between Serie A and us: in Turin the pitch is flat, so you can admit the other side is stronger.
Pellegrini, meanwhile, has been reinstated to the squad list and will travel with the team. Gattuso said the decision came from the club and that the player is fully available. I’ve been through that too, except at my place the club is the bar, and the bar decides.
Silly question, but a twenty-minute blackout, do you see it coming, or do you only notice at half-time?
You notice it in Monday’s league table. But I’ll work on it Tuesday. When we’ve got eleven.
It’s true, we checked: Football Italia.
