Ahead of his side’s trip to Tuscany to face Empoli, Gennaro Gattuso has acknowledged that he must shelve his anger and frustration if he is to get the side back on track.
The Diavolo have had a difficult start to the campaign and after their first game was postponed, they have picked up just one win from their four games since, beating Roma via a late Patrick Cutrone winner.
Five points from four games has them sitting in 13th position and while Gattuso admitted to feeling frustration, he is aware that being too despondent is no way to resolve the situation.
“You have to put that [rage] aside and find peace, talk as little as possible and make the players feel comfortable and safe. The performances shouldn’t be overlooked, even if we are throwing points away,” he told the assembled media.
“Going around with depressed faces is useless. We want to improve and get up to where we belong so I must transmit tranquility and calm to correct what has prevented us from getting results.
“We aren’t a great team. We have flaws to correct but we have little time to do it. When Leonardo says we must change the mentality, he isn’t wrong. Perhaps we need to not play as well but still take home the victory.
“We need more malice in our play, something more. There are still many flaws for us to correct.”
Against Napoli, the Diavolo surrendered a 2-0 second half lead to lose 3-2 and twice gave up a lead in drawing 2-2 with Atalanta but Gattuso doesn’t believe that can be blamed on the youthful make-up of their squad.
“Many teams are young but we cannot use that [as an excuse] and we can’t waste chances and concede goals. At this moment, I don’t even feel comfortable when we are up 2-0,” continued the former Palermo boss.
“There is the feeling that something can go wrong for us at the first opportunity. We are good on the ball but we need to change our mentality when we don’t have it. We aren’t organised enough when we have to put on pressure and win the ball back.”
Gattuso also confirmed that Gonzalo Higuain is struggling with a flexor problem and will face a late fitness test on Thursday before it is determined whether or not he can feature, while Cutrone also trained for the first time on Wednesday morning as he continues his own comeback from injury.