Live TMW
6.20pm – Tomorrow the Italian Cup final will be played between Atalanta and Juventus and the Nerazzurri coach will soon Gian Piero Gasperini he will introduce the Olimpico match in a press conference from the Capitoline stadium.
6.31pm – The press conference begins.
What’s the difference with the previous Atalanta? What would it mean to win a trophy?
“I always thought that the Italian Cup was the only trophy for Atalanta, as the Scudetto and the Champions League were distant. And instead it is the third time we have reached the final: the other two did not go well but we are stubborn and persist. The Europa League is unthinkable but the boys were splendid and made an incredible journey, with the last mile missing now. We want to win the final.”
The turning point of the season in Liverpool?
“One of the turning points, even if we always think of differentiated paths. In Liverpool we had the awareness of reaching the final, but for the Italian Cup it was Milan with Milan.”
Guardiola complimented her.
“Guardiola is a friend (laughs, ed.). I thank him… The matches we have had to face this season have given the team self-esteem and tomorrow we will meet those who have the value of the very first ones, even if in the championship they have not achieved the results that we expect we were waiting. Liverpool, Marseille and Sporting gave us strength, as did the victory over Roma in the league the other night. Having played a lot helped us, despite having taken some things away from the players for having had the will to play every three days from February onwards. They achieved the ability to regenerate which led them to this incredible season.”
This time a final he could win.
“Only 5 years have passed and it is a source of great pride because there are few left of that team. We have changed over time, there have been a second and now a third Atalanta. But always with spirit, motivation and identity: this is a group who has forged ahead. The important thing for me is that Atalanta is positioned on a level that allows them to play these matches often. We must always look up, the desire to improve then leads us to stay in higher areas.” .
Is this the strongest Atalanta ever coached? Is the role of favorite a burden?
“We’ll see later if it’s the strongest Atalanta. It’s certainly a young Atalanta that can become even stronger. It’s not easy to renew itself and remain competitive. And on the favourite… We’re certainly arriving with great enthusiasm and Juventus has had results below their expectations in recent weeks, but remains an undoubtedly strong team.”
Any peculiarities about tomorrow’s match?
“Every match is different, we don’t delude ourselves that it can be similar to the one against Roma. Tactically, Scamacca’s absence will force us to try other solutions and I’m sorry about this. Not so much for me but for him, he was deprived of a final… And there you have to bring the best players, not take them away. Maybe we should adapt to the rest of Europe, that at least in the semi-final the bookings will be eliminated. With Juve it will be a different type of match, I hope we arrive tomorrow with the same one spirit with which we came to challenge Roma after qualifying against Marseille and the same desire to win. So we will have a better chance.”
Tomorrow 23 thousand fans are expected from Bergamo. Did anyone say anything to you in town?
“Bergamo is experiencing a moment of sporting fibrillation and Atalanta catalyzes the thoughts of the city. It will be like this tomorrow, but also in the other competitions. This moment is fantastic, but we have already done something stronger than a trophy from my point of view. Something that remains solid with the team: sometimes you win trophies or Scudetti and you don’t celebrate them, here instead we will remain linked to the history of Atalanta.”