DUBLIN – After the defeat in the Italian Cup final against Juventus, Atalanta tries to take home the Europa League. The Nerazzurri will face Bayer Leverkusen in tomorrow’s final, who eliminated Daniele De Rossi’s Roma in the semi-final. Follow the press conference of Nerazzurri coach Gian Piero Gasperini live…
5.51pm
Gasperini: “Playing a lot was good”
“The Italian championship has grown, with the presence of many teams in the finals of the European cups and has grown in the ranking. It is a positive sign for us and we hope that it can also be a boost for the national team in view of the European Championships. Playing many matches it helped us. Playing more and training less was positive, it allowed us to prepare better, even though the season was very tough, with a very compressed calendar and with such a large number of matches in the future or we should find some stratagem.”
5.47pm
Gasperini: “Team, fans and club, we grew together”
“We have faced Bayer in the past, but this is a different team. In a single match you have to adapt to the opponent and try to understand how to try to be the protagonist.” On the spirit put into play: “This spirit has always been there in the past too. We have always had a great sense of belonging among the team, fans and club. We all got there together, following an important and in some ways unexpected growth path. We renewed, but in a short time we back in Europe. Next year Atalanta will win the Champions League again and it’s a great sign. We are proud, but aware that we can always improve.”
5.44pm
Gasperini on Bayer Leverkusen
“Bayer is a very organized team with valuable players, with different solutions in every department. It is a flexible team, which defends very well and restarts very well. It is a team that is worth the results it has achieved. We should play a careful match. It will be a match that, like all finals, will be full of episodes. We must be good at getting them on our side.”
5.42pm
Gasperini: “In Europe we have already faced top-level teams”
“We thank all the fans who did everything they could to reach us. How do we face Bayer? With the utmost consideration for the value of the opponent, but knowing that in our journey we have already faced top-level teams.” On De Roon: “I would have preferred to have him on the pitch, but I’m happy that he will be with us before and during the match. He is an exemplary captain, for his behavior and for what he does on the pitch. He will carry his energy to his teammates.”
5.38pm
Gasperini and the absence of Scamacca
“Scamacca has made a notable evolution in recent months, in terms of goals and performances. His absence with Juventus was fundamental, as we don’t have a similar alternative in that role. Tomorrow the offensive department is complete and we can think about it even over ninety minutes or possibly overtime”
5.36pm
Gasperini: “There is great anticipation for the final”
Gian Piero Gasperini in the press conference: “The mathematical qualification for the Champions League allowed us to put maximum concentration for this final. My current feeling is one of waiting. We have prepared everything we had to and now we have to be good at finding the right serenity to let the pitch talk.”
5.28pm
Djimsiti: “Forbidden to make mistakes”
“Those who know Atalanta know that the first defenders are the attackers and that everyone works for the team. We must all be ready and try not to make mistakes, knowing the strength of our opponent, but also our qualities.”
5.27pm
Djimsiti: “The captain’s armband is a pride”
Berat Djimsiti to Sky’s microphones: “We experience beautiful emotions. We are happy to have reached the final. It’s the dream everyone has as a child.” The defender he will take the field with the captain’s armband. “It’s a great pride for me, but I’m sorry for De Roon’s absence. Tomorrow I’ll wear the armband, but there are many of us who are captains, given that we take the field together and always fight together.” On Bayer Leverkusen. “A strong opponent. Many words are not needed given the path they have taken: they deservedly won the Bundesliga and have not lost a match. They are a great team with many top-level players. We played with them two years ago and they have grown, with quick restarts”.
5.19pm
Gasperini: “We know Bayer Leverkusen. A good journey in Europe”
“They are a strong team, with different solutions. We have had the opportunity to see them often: we know their strength, but we also have the ability to stay on the pitch and propose our game situations.” On the road in Europe: “It was a good journey, against strong and important teams. We have developed a good awareness. Tomorrow we will have the right energy to try to do well. We have a bit of a bitter taste in our mouths from the performance against Juventus. This made us think that in certain matches we suffer from pressure, but as previously said, we are growing and improving.”
5.16pm
Gasperini: “We are getting used to races of this level”
“In recent years we have played many important matches and we are getting used to playing matches of this type. De Roon will be missed and I am very sorry for him and his past. Reaching the final and not playing it is a shame. injured earlier today.”
5.14pm
Gasperini: “Roma put their trust in us”
“We arrive happy for what we have done and hopeful”, these are the words of Gian Piero Gasperini on Sky. “We were in Rome and Lecce and we saw how many people will cheer for us. We will represent Italy and we will try to represent it well. Roma gave us confidence: they came close to progressing to the next round with Bayer Leverkusen by overturning the 2-0 lead from the first leg. They were two balanced matches.”
5.12pm
Gasperini, the future
The future of Gian Piero Gasperini is still uncertain. Napoli follows him closely (READ EVERYTHING…)
5.07pm
Bayer Leverkusen, the post that causes discussion
Bayer Leverkusen published a post that sent Arsenal fans into a rage (READ EVERYTHING…)
4.49pm
Atalanta-Bayer Leverkusen, the odds
Here are the bettors’ odds for the Europa League final between Atalanta and Bayer Leverkusen (READ EVERYTHING…)
