New Palermo boss Gennaro Gattuso says starting his coaching career at Milan this summer was not really an option.
New Palermo boss Gennaro Gattuso says starting his coaching career at Milan this summer was not really an option.
The 35-year-old was being linked with the hotseat at Milanello before the club confirmed Massimiliano Allegri and Gattuso was handed his first full-time coaching job following the Rosanero’s relegation to Serie B.
“When there was talk of me going to Milan, I was aware that I would not have been ready to deal with an experience that was bigger than me,” he told La Repubblica.
“You can only get to certain places if you go through the steps required to help you mature and handle the big players.
“I would be a hypocrite if I said that coaching Milan was not my objective, but I have a lot of work to do before being handed that bench.
“I’m not thinking about Milan right now. The road ahead is long and there are some missing pieces before such a puzzle is completed.”
The World Cup winner spent 13 years with Milan as a midfielder before his 2012 switch to Sion in Switzerland.
Gattuso was a hungry ball winner in the middle of the pitch and he wants his team to work just as hard as he did.
“I want a style of play where my players have to pedal,” he explained. “We must not only think about defending, but creating chances and putting our opponents under pressure.
“For now we will be playing with a 4-2-3-1 system, but don’t expect us to always play in that shape.”