La Gazzetta dello Sport analyses Atalanta’s win over Liverpool in the Europa League quarter-final first leg, saying that La Dea were ‘nearly perfect’ and blaming Jurgen Klopp for excessive squad rotation.
Atalanta secured a historic 3-0 victory at Anfield over Liverpool on Thursday in the first leg of the Europa League quarter-finals. La Dea’s victory was inspired by a Gianluca Scamacca brace, but all Atalanta players were understandably praised by Italian newspapers on Friday following a win that has already made history in Italian football.
La Gazzetta dello Sport issued its verdict on the two coaches as well rating Gasperini 8/10 and Klopp 4/10.
The pink paper’s correspondents at Anfield highlighted that Gasperini won the game and dominated Liverpool without two regular starters in defence: the injured Giorgio Scalvini and Sead Kolasinac, an ex-Arsenal defender.
‘It’s hard to defend in these circumstances, so Gasp decided to attack,’ wrote Gazzetta.
‘Atalanta were almost perfect, technically accurate, intense, mature and mentally clear-headed.’
Gazzetta already argued that Liverpool had underestimated Atalanta at Anfield and Gazzetta blamed Klopp for excessive rotations against La Dea.
‘The disaster is his fault too,’ noted the pink paper.
‘He underestimated Atalanta with exaggerated rotations, and the team was affected. He changed during the break, but he still conceded twice in the second half, seeing an unrecognizable Liverpool sink.’
Atalanta players returned to Bergamo on Friday afternoon. They will face Hellas Verona in a Serie A match on Monday before the second leg against Liverpool on Thursday, April 18, at the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo.
The pride of Liverpool had to be punished by humbled La Dea.Pride comes before a fall