Gattuso admits Napoli might have to adapt their style of play

Despite a return to winning ways, Gennaro Gattuso had a stern message for his Napoli players regarding their style of play.

Gennaro Gattuso insists Napoli cannot always be beautiful like Hollywood actor Brad Pitt as he urged his side to get ‘ugly’ when they need to.

Napoli claimed a last-gasp 2-1 victory at Udinese thanks to Tiemoue Bakayoko’s late winner in Serie A on Sunday.

Lorenzo Insigne had opened the scoring via a 15th-minute penalty to give his side the early lead.

However, Udinese’s Kevin Lasagna equalized 12 minutes later before Bakayoko ensured Napoli bounced back from their shock defeat at home to Spezia.

Napoli are sixth in Serie A – nine points adrift of leaders AC Milan – and head coach Gattuso admits his team might not need to adopt necessary measures if push comes to shove.

“I don’t get angry with my players for their technique, it’s when they don’t smell fear. I think we are a team who repeatedly don’t spot the danger when it’s coming. I want to see a team that keeps going,” Gattuso told the club’s website.

Gattuso sobre futebol do Napoli: “Não dá para ser sempre o Brad Pitt, às vezes tem que ser feio como eu”https://t.co/s9yZUXGeaR
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“I don’t want us to miss a chance, then I see immediately the defenders start complaining to each other, oh we missed a goal, that means we’re bound to concede one. No! We have to work as a team.”

Speaking on his side’s style of play, Gattuso added: “We have to improve in situations when we’re under pressure, because I know I don’t have a side that can soak up pressure for ages, that’s not our approach, but we can do better than we are now. You can’t tell me that mentality cannot be improved or coached. I don’t believe it.

“What happened with Spezia infuriated me, because the ball came off the post, we had five players ball-watching while Tommaso Pobega reacted quicker. That is a lack of determination, that is unacceptable.

“Napoli want to always be beautiful, but sometimes being a bit ugly is a good thing. You can’t always be Brad Pitt, with blonde hair and blue eyes. Sometimes you have to be a bit ugly, like me. I look worse than usual now, as I’m all puffed up due to the cortisone shots, but I feel better.”