by Giambattista Gherardi
The 3-0 is now the house specialty: after those against Napoli, Liverpool, Marseille and Bayer Leverkusen, the one against former Zapata’s Torino also arrived, useful for securing fourth place (with the possibility of third by winning with the Viola).
Gasperini (defined by Juric as «the best European coach») arrives on Sky’s microphones after the tour of the pitch, the crowd, the jumps with the Curva and the Europa League trophy raised with Antonio Percassi. A boundless smile on the coach’s face: “It’s an enormous satisfaction – he underlines – to celebrate in our stadium and do it with an important victory”.
The concentration was maximum, both from the players on the pitch and from him on the bench.
«Maybe I have a double personality: on the pitch the adrenaline makes me a tough person, off the pitch I’m a normal person, I think many can confirm this. Just think of the patience of these months with the usual questions (laughs, ed)”.
A thought for the offer that came from Napoli?
«I have always been interested in the matches, and there were many: two cup finals and the Champions League zone to conquer. Napoli’s requests were pleasing, but in the end I was in their thoughts along with many other coaches. I am a coach linked to Atalanta and I will still be.”
Confirmation is obviously the news, which leads us to look forward. Which players on the market are “from Atalanta” and, above all, from Gasperini?
«I have trained many players in recent years and therefore there are many prototypes, both physically and technically. Maybe I prefer some over others. Juric himself was an important prototype in Crotone. He was also requested, but to make him stay I told the sporting director not to reveal the requests received to him. I excluded him against Catanzaro because he wanted to leave, but then we became great friends.”
Now there is still the recovery with Fiorentina, but immediately stop the allegations…
«In recent weeks I have never opened my mouth about it, I have always said that I simply wanted to play the important matches. And it seems to me that the balance is positive.”
