Gian Piero GasperiniAtalanta coach, analyzes the microphones of DAZN the 6-1 success against Hellas Verona: “400 benches are really a lot, each one was an emotion: from the first to tonight’s match. In every match we always tried to win and score a goal, the fact of having won and scored so many goals is a result to be shared with all the players who have been there in recent years and which I remember fondly together with the club and our fans. There is a very high sense of belonging here that the banner of our fans tonight was right on target and I was very pleased.”
Does this Atalanta feel even more yours?
“We are more advanced than when tonight we play with the strong block from last year, apart from Retegui who has inserted himself in an extraordinary way. Playing and winning the Europa League and playing the Champions League helps you take steps forward, we need to insert the new arrivals are also at the same level as this group and are working very well because there are so many games and it is important that the squad is used. Now we are also recovering players in defense where we have been penalized for several weeks in this period, now we are recovering a bit of everyone and a lot will also depend on how we manage to continue with tonight’s three but also to include players like Zaniolo and Samardzic to be able to provide breathing space in attack too.”
Has Retegui also improved De Ketelaere and Lookman?
“His inclusion was extraordinary, I think the team has understood his characteristics well. Tonight, for example, he attacked the near post very well, outside the area he exchanges with technique. Lookman and De Ketelaere have grown this year they are much stronger players. After the Africa Cup of Nations, Lookman had a difficult period then he exploded and now he is at that level. Scamacca was in a condition never seen before, his injury was a shock to the club did well to recover with Retegui, but this year he was a different player compared to the one who arrived last year.”