The Biancocelesti fell behind to Jesper Karlstrom’s second-half opener but responded with goals from Davide Frattesi and Albert Gudmundsson to secure all three points.
Gattuso was particularly impressed by his team’s reaction after their disappointing Coppa Italia defeat to Mantova in August and believes the players are adapting well to the changes he has introduced since taking charge.
“The mentality and the desire. We dismantled everything compared to last year, when there was a master of the 4-3-3, and we are trying to do something different,” Gattuso told Sky Sport, with quotes via TuttoMercatoWeb.
“The lads are doing things well. What we are trying to propose is not easy, but the team is alive.”
Gattuso: ‘I have to thank Lotito and Fabiani’
The former Milan midfielder also credited President Claudio Lotito and sporting director Angelo Fabiani for their work in the transfer market, saying Lazio completed a campaign that had initially appeared unlikely.
“With great difficulty, we made a transfer market that we didn’t think we could make. I have to thank both him and Fabiani; they deserve enormous credit for the players who arrived.”
Gattuso will now prepare for an emotional meeting with Milan, the club where he spent 12 years as a player.
“As a child, I remember the parade after the Steaua game with my father. For me, it was always an honour and a dream that lasted 12 years,” he said.
“All the affection and joy cannot be forgotten, but today I have another job and on Sunday I hope to take points from the team of my heart.”