"You're a Big Mouth. I Don't Respect You." Gattuso Clashes with Journalist After Defeat

The coach lost his temper following Hajduk’s crushing 0-3 loss to Rijeka.

On March 16, 2025, in Matchday 26 of the Croatian First League, Rijeka hosted Hajduk in a crucial top-of-the-table clash. The home side secured a dominant 3-0 victory, leaving Hajduk’s head coach, Gennaro Gattuso, visibly frustrated. After the match, in a heated TV interview, he lashed out at sports show host Joško Jeličić.

A Key Match That Went Horribly Wrong for Hajduk

This match was vital in the title race, but from the very start, it was a tough battle for Gattuso’s side. They saw less possession, were forced to defend deep, and relied only on rare counterattacks. The team had also been struggling for form: two wins, two draws, and a loss in their last five games, while Rijeka entered the match with a stronger record of three wins and two draws.

The first half was a disaster for Hajduk. They conceded in the 25th minute, picked up three yellow cards, and gave away a penalty just 10 minutes later — resulting in a 0-2 deficit by halftime. Gattuso attempted to turn things around with a double substitution, bringing on two forwards for a defender and a midfielder, but it made little difference.

Things got even worse in the 54th minute, when Filip Uremović received a yellow card for a reckless challenge near his own penalty area. He shoved an opponent in the back and nearly stepped on him while he was down — tensions were already boiling over.

In the final moments, Rijeka sealed the win with a third goal, making it 3-0. But the most dramatic moment came after the match, when Gattuso confronted a journalist live on air.

Gattuso Explodes on Live TV

The furious Hajduk coach went straight to the TV studio to answer questions but refused to shake hands with former Hajduk player and host Joško Jeličić. Then, he went even further:

"I don’t want to shake your hand because you talk too much and disrespect people. You played football—you understand the game, you know the situation. But I don’t respect you," Gattuso declared.

Jeličić responded by criticizing Hajduk’s performance, saying the team was playing “very poorly.” Gattuso fired back with a blunt reply: "That’s my style."

The argument escalated, lasting about a minute. It began in English, but when the topic of mutual respect came up, both men switched to Spanish. The whole scene resembled a fiery Friday night in a Latin bar — Gattuso gesticulated wildly, pointed fingers inches from Jeličić’s face, and insisted they "talk only about football."

Feeling disrespected, Gattuso finally snapped:

"This is the last time I speak with you on TV! You’re a bad person, and I won’t give interviews while you’re here. You talk as if you've conquered the world!"

At that moment, host Valentina Miletic intervened, shifting the conversation in a more controlled direction.

Title Race Heats Up After the Defeat

Following this crushing loss, Gattuso’s Hajduk dropped to second place, now trailing Rijeka by two points with ten matches left in the season.

The next showdown between these two teams is set for May 17 at Hajduk’s home ground, Poljud Stadium in Split. It will be their fourth meeting of the season, and after this heated encounter, it promises to be an explosive one.

Published by Patrick Jane
18.03.2025