L’Atalanta wins again (2-0 against Empoli), projecting themselves into the fight for a place in the Champions League: if 3 points arrive from the match to be recovered against Florentine, the Bergamo players would currently be fifth, -3 behind Bologna, fourth. The season of Goddess however in this final it will be exciting and hot also and above all for what the team does Gasperini is doing in the cups, starting from the first leg of the Europa League semi-final against Marseillescheduled for Thursday.
Omar spoke exclusively for SPORTITALIA Milanettotoday talent scout at Cesena newly promoted to Serie B: in addition to his work, he told us his opinion about Gasperini himself, a coach with whom he was linked for 145 matches played together during his time at Genoa.
How satisfied are you with the great result achieved by Cesena?
“When things go so well it’s clear that you’re happy, it’s a season that has brought great satisfaction, we’re all happy and we hope to continue like this.”
How many games do you watch as a scout?
“The work of scouting has changed in recent years: as there are now matches every day you always have to be around. When there’s a championship or cups being played I’m always in some stadium, otherwise I’m constantly “killing myself” with videos.”
Now you enter the crucial phase of your work.
“Yes, the work is aimed above all at that, at arriving ready for these moments in which we need to build the team for the following year, having alternatives to propose and show to the club, to the sporting director. The fruit of the many kilometers traveled during the year”.
Is there too little talk about Gasperini?
“It’s easy to talk to me about him, I’ve had him for many years and he’s an extraordinary coach. He turns anything he touches into gold. He probably didn’t have great chances in top-level clubs, but he transformed normal teams before his arrival into super teams. He has made and is making a sensational journey”.
This year one of the best “products” of his work, which is being seen in this season finale, is Scamacca.
“Yes, Gasperini’s story is clear: with him all the attackers manage to perform at their best and score many goals. He was good and Scamacca himself was good at following him, growing and bringing out his best at the right time.”
His most accredited rival for the national team’s “9” shirt is Retegui, who scores with your Genoa. What do you think of him?
“He is a striker who did very well in his first year in Italy. They are different in terms of characteristics, but they are two important arrows for the national team, we hope that a good rivalry will be born that will bring results to a national team that has been struggling to enthuse people for a while.”
As a rossoblu fan, do you hope that he and Gudmundsson stay in Liguria, or will it be difficult?
“They both did very well and you could see the work done by the club. Upon returning to Serie A, the Grifone was safe in mid-table, practically without ever taking risks. It’s an important thing, they identified many names of players who then turned out to be talented and who immediately established themselves.”
Allegri and Pioli are considered safe starters from the Juve and Milan benches. What do you think about it?
“They are two extraordinary coaches for everything they have done in their careers, then in football you know that you live in moments and criticism is the order of the day. They will be able to accept them, let them slide over them and take them in a positive way.”
