Gian Piero Gasperini feels Atalanta have grabbed their first win of 2025 at ‘the fitting time’, defeating Sturm Graz to earn a spot into the highest 24 of the Champions League’s league part, an achievement that ‘wasn’t assured at first’.
La Dea’s means they’re now sure of progressing to the knockout part play-off but additionally have full probabilities of heading straight to the round-of-16, though their final match towards Barcelona may show decisive in that respect.
The Italian tactician urged his gamers to not ‘lose humility’ of their closing fixture towards the Blaugrana, however admitted will probably be ‘an enormous motivation’.
Gasperini: Atalanta might want to mix ‘boldness’ with ‘humility’ towards Barcelona
“We wanted this; we simply couldn’t handle to win in 2025 up to now, and it got here on the proper time,” after the match.
“We’ve had an excellent run, regardless of a troublesome schedule that included internet hosting Arsenal and Actual Madrid. Tonight, we needed to shut it out.
“Within the first half, we didn’t do very properly technically, however then we managed the sport. Already being within the prime 24 is a superb achievement, which wasn’t assured at first.”
Atalanta boast top-of-the-line assaults within the competitors, having scored 18 targets from seven Champions League matches, a type of offensive ‘boldness’ that would additionally pose a risk to the Spanish giants within the subsequent spherical.
“Boldness is sweet, so long as we don’t lose humility,” the coach warned.
“We’re enjoying towards a really sturdy workforce, and we even have a league with very powerful matches. We’re enjoying with nice depth, however in any case, we’ll go to Barcelona to offer our greatest, as we at all times do.
“These are video games of such status. We haven’t confronted Barcelona in recent times. I don’t know if meaning we’re fortunate, contemplating we’ve confronted all of Europe’s prime groups. For us, will probably be an enormous motivation.
“We’ll see how the 2 league matches earlier than it go. Rotating gamers doesn’t imply we don’t need to win. In Riyadh, I made three adjustments to gamers who had starred towards Roma, however it appeared like we went there to not play.
“In lots of matches, it’s important to profit from a deep squad, as we did tonight.”
Gianluca Scamacca is closing in on his return to motion after a prolonged damage, which is able to pressure Gasperini to choose one between him and the workforce’s main goalscorer Mateo Retegui.
“Contemplating the opposite forwards, it’s the more than likely answer, however I’m satisfied they will play collectively as properly,” the coach noticed.
“We’ll see whether or not from the beginning or throughout the match. Scamacca wants a little bit of enjoying time to get again into rhythm, however he’s very motivated.
“He began the season fantastically, and I’ll attempt to combine him as quickly as potential. We must be cautious, as we’re lacking a alternative for Lookman and De Ketelaere, until Zaniolo develops into that sort of participant.
“I imagine having a powerful assault is essential. Having gamers who can come on and make a distinction is essential. Samardzic is doing properly now; it is a workforce that may develop.”
