Gian Piero Gasperini has confirmed that Italy U19 expertise Marco Palestra is ready to earn his full Champions League debut when Atalanta tackle Sturm Graz within the Champions League on Tuesday night time, which he feels ‘is usually a good shock’ for the supporters.
Atalanta are at present in thirteenth place within the Champions League standings after six matches, however may safe their place within the play-off spherical with a victory towards the Austrian outfit on Tuesday night time.
“It’s a Champions League sport, we haven’t secured qualification but, tomorrow might be a decisive day,” Gasperini stated throughout his pre-match press convention on Monday night, reported through .
Gasperini: Atalanta ‘should hold focus’ in ‘troublesome’ Sturm Graz match
This won’t be the primary time the 2 sides have met in recent times.
“Final yr we performed two balanced video games, we received 1-0 at house, however we’ve modified some gamers since then,” Gasperini added. “They’re a group who’re in first place of their nation, these are all very balanced video games. They’ve solely picked up three factors, however they’ve misplaced narrowly in all of the video games they’ve performed.”
“I anticipated a contemporary group, one that desires to play after a bit interval of inactivity. We now have to watch out, hold our focus and a spotlight, we all know it is going to be troublesome. We will’t make errors, gaining qualification just isn’t accomplished but.”
Gasperini confirmed that Nicolo Zaniolo won’t be concerned for Atalanta on Tuesday night time, however insisted that the set-back is nothing severe and nothing to fret about.
“He’s had a little bit of discomfort. It’s nothing severe, he received’t play tomorrow, however we’ll see afterwards,” he stated.
Gasp was additionally stuffed with reward for goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi, who joined him for the pre-match press conferences.
“He has at all times been a younger man with good prospects. I believe he has additionally matured as an individual, with nice humility, even in good moments like now. He at all times has a want to enhance.”
There was additionally a mini-update on Mateo Retegui and Juan Cuadrado: “Mateo’s numbers converse for themselves. He had a bit cease, however he got here again and was instantly decisive. Cuadrado was near taking part in a bit extra constantly, sadly he additionally suffered a little bit of a set-back.”
After which got here the affirmation that Palestra will play as a starter within the Champions League for the primary time.
The 19-year-old performed for quarter-hour off the bench towards Younger Boys earlier within the marketing campaign and likewise earned his full senior debut in t earlier within the season. In any other case, he has solely ever appeared off the bench for La Dea so far.
“Tomorrow I’ll undoubtedly play Palestra, I believe the time has come to launch him in an necessary sport. I believe this man is usually a good shock.”