The Atalanta coach, Gian Piero Gasperinispoke at a press conference on the eve of the match against Empoli.
How are Scalvini and Kolasinac?
Today we try, but yesterday we had some good feedback, there is confidence. Kolasinac’s arrival was providential for us, he raised the defensive level, he is a player who fitted in straight away. He embodies our values, he immediately became an important player, he was a fundamental reinforcement. Since it was expiring, it was a great coup.”
What could be the pitfalls against Empoli?
“We have the burn with Verona at home, we won 2-0 at home, then a draw came. They were two points left by the wayside, we need to win this race to break away from those behind and get as close as possible to those in front.”
Is this your team that has grown best?
“It’s difficult to make a ranking, they are globally different teams. In this team there are fewer young people behind, in the second lines, but they are all different teams, with a different composition.”
His relationship with Nicola?
“He is a coach I respect a lot, in recent years he has achieved incredible results like the one against Crotone. He did an incredible bike ride to fulfill this vow he had made. He is doing an incredible thing again this year, for them tomorrow is a very important match for reasons different from ours, but these spins have always given everyone problems. It will definitely be a difficult match, we will have to play an excellent match to try to win.”
Will we see Touré from the first minute tomorrow?
“He had an excellent race in Monza, in attack it is essential to have the performance of all the attackers, there and where we can make the difference. We have Scamacca, De Ketelaere, Miranchuk… it’s never a question of just one player, you have to have a prolific attack that he can create, they are all capable of giving us a contribution in turn. In a few days we will play many important matches, if I have to ask for something right now it is not to lose players, we hope to continue like this, injuries have been reduced.”
Palomino?
“He hasn’t trained with us for weeks, he hasn’t been part of the squad for weeks, it was a shame because he would have had the chance to be useful to this team.”
Can Toloi and Holm recover for the final sprint?
“Toloi is more likely to recover, it’s a little more difficult for Holm.”
Are you worried from a physical point of view given your many commitments?
“I’m worried about any ailments, it’s the only risk you run when you play often. But the fact of the five changes helps a lot, we found good continuity and a good possibility of variation. I don’t think there are physical efforts to recover from, but rather nervous ones. Now we have the push from all the fans. The team has always had a good attitude, but overall the boys have always had a very positive attitude and have always given their contribution, but it has always had the appreciation of the public, people have always understood that there has never been a lack of I commit. In the reviews when Atalanta doesn’t get a result there is very heavy criticism, but luckily there haven’t been many matches, but we are also in good company, all the teams can complain about lost points. This is the difficulty of the championship, but the season so far has been very positive. It’s difficult to comment on it up to this moment, but it’s also true that my judgment isn’t based on the result, sometimes you wait for Atalanta to fall.”
How much did you suffer being in the stands?
“I was sorry because you don’t experience the semi-finals of the Italian Cup every year, I was sorry because it happened after a warning to the VAR and a double head injury. After causing enough disasters in the league that referee now often referees in Serie B, there has been some justice.”
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