The result gave Lazio four wins and a draw from their opening five matches, something they had never managed before, and they have done it with the second-best defence in Serie A. It also leaves them level at the top with Inter and Roma, only weeks after a Coppa Italia defeat by Mantova had raised fears about their season.
Gattuso, speaking to Sky Sport, kept the focus on what went wrong.
“The table at the moment counts for little. If we want to surprise, we have to do things well. Today we made many mistakes: too many through balls conceded, the distances were very long. The table shouldn’t be looked at. Now the lads will have five days of rest and then we will get back to work.”
Asked about the pressure to prove himself, he said he would never have come to Lazio without the turmoil around the club.
“If there hadn’t been this mess I would never have come to Lazio. In the past I came close two or three times but I always said no to Lotito. I knew there were messes and I accepted for that reason. Because the lads had a desire to work and I felt it. But I still haven’t done anything. 13 points? Yes, so minus 27 to be safe.”
Venezia FC coach Giovanni Stroppa, whose side lost for a fifth time in five matches, was proud of the performance despite the result.
“A lot of disappointment and a lot of regret, I can say I’m proud of the performance and the commitment against a Lazio who seem even more protagonists in this league for the qualities they have shown. The penalty for us could have changed the game, the penalty for them did change it, without making us lose our balance though.
"We concede two goals and we are sorry, Mandas is the best on the pitch tonight: what can we do? We will continue to work like this, there is certainly more to do.”
Stroppa was also asked what happened over the penalty.
“It wasn’t known who was to take it, both wanted to and I wanted to avoid it going any further.”
He then spoke about Gattuso.
“I hardly ever talk about opponents. Gattuso is certainly doing a great job and I congratulated him before and after the game. But I like my team because it put a big team in difficulty.”