It’s not an obsession, or maybe it is. But a void, a black hole, yes, it unquestionably is. Gasperini’s Atalanta – this wonderful team that in the last eight years has entertained Italy, thrilled Europe and achieved scattered feats – is terribly missing a cup. He took all the rest: he beat everyone, including Liverpool; he built samples and then sold them to invent others; he played engaging, enthralling football; has acquired unimaginable consideration even at an international level. She lacks, in fact, a trophy, whatever it may be, to touch, kiss, raise to the sky. Because then it’s true that reaching the quarter-finals of the Champions League (this also happened, four years ago) from a technical point of view is worth much more than winning the Italian Cup, but you want to give the flavor that caressing, polishing, putting on the noticeboard gives a trophy of your own? Who knows if this will be the right time, in the Italian Cup or maybe – why not? – in the Europa League: the year of Gasperini’s first success, in his eighth season, and Atalanta’s return to victory, 61 years after the last and only time.
SUPER GODDESS
—
What is certain is that Atalanta is as solid as ever. We saw this in the double semi-final against Fiorentina: in the first leg they played badly and it went well for them, having limited the defeat to just one goal; yesterday she fully redeemed herself, although she had to wait until the final minutes to defeat the Viola, who were down to ten men. Italiano’s team goes away with many regrets, for the goals they failed in Florence (serious and never resolved problem) and for the unforgivable naivety they committed in the 95th minute, when they conceded the 3-1 on the counterattack even though they were in numerical inferiority. Gasperini wisely exploited all the weapons he had: he started with Koopmeiners, De Ketelaere and Scamacca, then gradually inserted Pasalic, Lookman, Miranchuk. Lots of quality, the sign of a rich workforce. The Roman center forward was dominant again: two fantastic goals (one disallowed), Milenkovic’s expulsion, participation in all the dangerous actions. However, he also received an avoidable warning: he will miss the final, it will not be a recent absence. Will Allegri’s Juventus, ugly and not even winners (they have achieved the paltry three successes in the last fourteen matches), be able to stem Atalanta’s enthusiasm, effectiveness and desire for the Cup? Not easy. Of course, May 15th is still quite far away: the Bianconeri have time to try to find some serenity, physical condition and tactical stability. Without forgetting that Gasperini’s team, between now and the Olimpico match, will have to play two more matches, also having the European semi-final against Marseille. Yet the feeling is that the Italian Cup final pits a boat that flies on the flat sea with full sails, and another that is tossed left and right by the waves, and what’s more, sailing against the wind. By now even his sailors seem to struggle to recognize Allegri’s authority. One day Chiesa snorts, another Cambiaso: signs of a storm.
Juve, signings are needed
—
There is a lot of discussion about Allegri. Of his choices, of Juve without playing, of the negative results. It’s normal for him to be criticized, he’s certainly not without blame if there was this decline in the second part of the season and if the team doesn’t have a physiognomy, an identity. However, it would be exaggerated, indeed wrong, to attribute all responsibility to the technician, and it would even become dangerous in the future. Does anyone perhaps think of changing the face of Juve, making it competitive at the highest levels again, with a simple change of coach? We don’t believe this is the case. The main problem of the Juventus team is not on the bench, but on the pitch. The problem is the quality of the players, modest on average, and the performance of the (few) champions who exist. With the disarming Alex Sandro in defense and a midfield so poor in technique and geometry, with the Chiesa and the Danilo of the recent period, with this Kostic and the Bremer seen against Lazio, not even a magician would be able to get out of it. Atalanta is there, lurking: on May 15th they have an appointment with history. But Juve and Allegri, when they seem one step away from collapse, find unpredictable resources. In short: if today the Bergamo players seem superior in everything – game and players, athletic condition and character – this does not mean that they are destined to win. Juve, in one match, can surprise and be reborn. Then, however the Italian Cup final goes, we need to start strengthening the team of the future: chasing Inter in the championship, the Champions League and even the Club World Cup cannot be faced with this team. You can’t do it if your name is Juventus.
