Gattuso makes his debut at Lazio with an unexpected loss against Mantova.

Gennaro Gattuso had a disastrous start as Lazio's coach, witnessing his new team eliminated from the Coppa Italia with a surprising 2-0 home defeat to Mantova, a second-division side. The match took place on Sunday and marked the former Italian international's debut in charge of Lazio, a situation that was certainly a cold shower for the fans.

The 48-year-old coach took over at Lazio in July after leaving the national team, where he failed to lead the squad to a third consecutive World Cup. During his playing career at AC Milan, Gattuso won two Serie A titles and two Champions League trophies, but his trajectory as a manager has yet to match those successes. Gattuso has had stints at clubs like Fiorentina, Valencia, Napoli, and Marseille, but his story at Lazio began on a negative note.

This elimination for Lazio is particularly notable, as the team was the only one among the 12 Serie A clubs competing in the 64-team stage of the competition to be knocked out. Fans remember that Lazio, seven-time winners of the Coppa Italia, reached the final in the last edition, where they lost to Inter Milan in May. The defeat against Mantova raises questions about Gattuso's ability to turn the situation around and bring the team back to winning ways.

After the match, Gattuso stated: “It's unacceptable to lose at home, we have to learn from this mistake and come back stronger.” This statement reflects the pressure on the new coach to lift the team, which is already facing a difficult start to the season, and to gain the support of fans who expect a return to success.

With the elimination from the Coppa Italia, Gattuso will need to quickly focus on the league, where Lazio will try to regain its form and confidence, not forgetting the need to reverse the poor impression left in this match. The impact of this defeat could be long-lasting, both emotionally and in the team's dynamics, forcing Gattuso to implement significant changes in the upcoming challenges.