Rennes striker Boulaye Dia says Lazio’s rise to the top of the table under Gennaro Gattuso is the result of sustained work, rather than any “magic” from the Italian coach.
Lazio are level on points with Inter, a position few expected after a disappointing previous season. Dia, who spent time at the club before returning to French football following five years away, said he had always believed the squad could improve.
“No, nobody expected that in those terms, but we knew what the team were capable of,” he told Flashscore.
Dia was speaking before Rennes’ Europa League match against Juventus, who have lost twice this season. He rejected the suggestion that Juventus were in crisis.
“In that case, you can’t talk about a crisis. And they lost to Lazio, who remain a great team. If they lost that day to a stronger side, then talking about a crisis… Besides, it doesn’t concern us; it’s their problem.”
The Senegal international also reflected on Rennes’ 4-3 defeat by Paris FC, which was settled late after an eventful match.
“Yes, there were a lot of swings in the game. It’s entertaining, but winning is better. We lost, so it hurts a bit.”
Dia spent much of the game on the bench before coming on and said watching the action gave him a clearer idea of where opportunities might appear.
“You know the game can change from one moment to the next. When you’re on the bench, you observe a lot and see how things are unfolding. That way, when you come on, you have a clear idea of what you can exploit. Then, once you’re on the pitch, everything happens quickly: a penalty, a foul, no penalty, a disallowed goal… That’s football; these things happen.”
He was unsure whether the defeat would provide extra motivation against Juventus, saying domestic and European matches brought different challenges. Rennes could have avoided losing to Paris FC, he added, but the two fixtures had to be treated separately.
Dia recalls Lazio and Salernitana spells
Dia remains in contact with former Lazio team-mates including Reda Belahyane and Tijjani Noslin. He believes Gattuso and his staff changed the group’s mentality, with a 2-0 Coppa Italia defeat by Mantova acting as a wake-up call.
“After the pre-season we had, we knew we would improve. Especially after the Coppa Italia defeat, a 2-0 loss to Mantova, which served as a wake-up call. It’s no surprise to me: I know what the coach brought and how I left the group.”
“He’s not a magician; there is simply a lot of work behind it. People judged him on his previous experiences, but every club and every situation has its own reality. He came with a mission to accomplish, and so far he’s doing it extremely well.”
Dia also described his spell at Salernitana, where he scored 16 goals in one season, as a positive experience. He praised Davide Nicola and Paulo Sousa, whose football suited him.
“Beautiful memories. We had a good team and some good coaches too. First Davide Nicola, then Paulo Sousa, under whom we played really well. His style of play suited me perfectly. I was in a good place and full of confidence. When you feel good somewhere, it shows on the pitch.”
His 2023 goal against Napoli delayed their Serie A title celebrations, but Dia said its importance came from the rivalry and supporters’ reaction rather than the goal itself. He said his most significant goals included strikes at the World Cup, in a Champions League semi-final and a late decisive goal against Hellas Verona.
Dia said he was happy to be back in France after five years away and to see the league’s development first-hand.
“I feel very good. I’m happy to return to the country where I grew up, and to a league that I had missed. When you leave for four or five years, you watch the league develop from afar and want to come back and see that evolution up close. The teams are better now.”
