Napoli coach Gennaro Gattuso has always been known for his enthusiasm and perseverance, and the former combat midfielder believes that passion and patience are factors that contributed to the awakening of the team during the past months.
Gattuso, 43, who leads the second team in Serie A, is seen as more of a motivator than a coach with tactical ideas, due to his reputation during the game.
But the idea slowly changed, and Gattuso is applying a different approach to that of a player.
"In my first matches against Spanish teams based on possession, I felt frustrated," he said after his 3-1 win at Spal on Sunday.
"I used to go towards the players and pressure them myself, but I was standing in the middle and exchanging the ball around me, and when the match was over I was saying that we are playing a different sport. I was suffering in these matches."
But Gattuso, who took over as head of Naples in chaos last December, is now looking at things differently.
"Football has changed in Italy, and there are a lot of teams that depend on passing the ball. I look at football differently now, compared to two player periods. I like to take possession of the ball and avoid risk."
Despite the new look, Gattuso also sticks to business principles.
"We need continuity and work hard every week and every match, and we must go on the path that started this month after the break," he said.
Napoli won the last five league games, and Juventus were defeated in the Italian Cup final, and the brilliant will visit Atlanta on Thursday, who won the last six league games and scored 21 goals in the series.
Atlanta is one of the league's most distinguished teams this season, after scoring 80 goals.
The two teams do not compete for the title, but the fourth-placed confrontation with Napoli VI will catch the spotlight in Round 29, which is divided into three days.
The matches start tomorrow, Tuesday, when Juventus, the leader, and his hunt for Lazio play outside.
Juventus, who is four points ahead of the club, aspires to ninth in a row as Genoa guest, while Lazio travel to Turin, while third-placed Inter Milan receive Brescia on Wednesday.