While managing OFI Crete, in the first few months there were rumours that the players and coaching staff were not getting paid due to the poor financial situation of the club. Gattuso lashed out at media saying that he expects 100% all the time from his players regardless if they get paid or not. He then made a bold statement saying that he does not care about the money, but only about the game. Throughout the press conference he controversially threw out curse words and banged on the table.