Gattuso: 'Napoli in training retreat'

By Football Italia staff

Napoli are going into a training retreat ahead of their games with Lazio and Juventus. “The squad made the decision,” said Gennaro Gattuso.

The Partenopei have lost four out of Gattuso’s five Serie A matches in charge, including three on the bounce, culminating in a 2-0 home defeat to Fiorentina.

The future doesn’t look much brighter, because they host Lazio in the Coppa Italia quarter-final on Tuesday, then welcome Serie A leaders Juventus to the Stadio San Paolo next Sunday.

“I spoke to the squad and they made the decision to go into a training retreat from this evening,” the coach told Sky Sport Italia.

“It was their decision. We can’t underestimate any detail. We need to look each other in the eye, stay together and say what needs to be said.

“We have to find solutions, because what we’re doing right now is not enough.”

This is dangerous territory, because the rot truly set in with Carlo Ancelotti when President Aurelio De Laurentiis ordered the team into a training retreat and the players rebelled.

The patron took legal action against his players, giving them the maximum possible fines, with lawyers continuing to discuss the situation months later.

“It would be too easy for me to say to you that the problem is the fines, but this is a team that does give me so much in training. When we get out there for a match, we don’t do anything that we had prepared.

“It’s not just a technical and tactical issue, but a mental one. I’ve played football with some really irritating people, but I always gave what I had on the pitch, even for those I didn’t like.”

Gattuso is well known for his passion and determination, but warns that cannot simply be passed on.

“There’s no point banging my fists on the table, I have to listen to the players and find out what is happening. We need to become a team again, because right now everyone is playing individually. We have to help each other get through this.”

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