Gian Piero Gasperini seemed fairly positive despite Atalanta’s dropped points in a tough 1-1 draw with Cremonese today.
La Dea entered the weekend top of the league table and hungry to maintain their early momentum, but despite the backing of their fans in Bergamo they failed to find a win against the newly promoted side. Merih Demiral’s opener was quickly matched by an Emanuele Valeri equaliser, forcing the two teams to share a point apiece at the Gewiss Stadium.
Speaking in a press conference, Gasperini first reacted to the draw against Cremonese.
“I want to review the match, in my opinion everything worked quite well.
“The game was better developed than in the other matches, there were a few mistakes that were a bit rough, but we gave a lot of depth, we lacked passing especially in the first half.
“There were all the conditions to do well, then we didn’t last long with that equaliser.”
He commented on what he expected after Demiral opened the scoring in the second half.
“I expected them to raise their centre of gravity and for us to find space, but then you have to do it on the pitch. It was a confused action, there was a rebound.
“From a potential counter we lost the ball, we didn’t optimise our advantage. Atalanta created their chances, they conceded very little, they played their game.”
The Atalanta coach seemed comfortable with Caleb Okoli’s chalked off goal.
“He touched it with his hands. I glimpsed at it, but the touch was there.”
He was positive about today’s opponents Cremonese.
“They’re a fast team on the break, there were some good chances even in the first half. In the second half they stayed deep, we created a few chances, we could have done a little more.”
Gasperini touched on how Atalanta came into the second half fired up and ready to go.
“Matches are always complicated, it’s a tough league and it showed in the other matches too. Technically there are also values in these teams, the league is balanced.
“Matches have to be taken with tongs, knowing that you play 90 minutes and that the five changes make it a lot easier.”
The Atalanta coach discussed Demiral’s decision to celebrate with him on the touchline.
“He is a warrior, he must always feel confidence. If he feels he’s important he gives you everything, but this concerns the whole team.
“I have many players attached to the desire to do well. Then it’s normal that if Pasalic remains as Ederson’s reserve or Malinovskyi as Lookman’s reserve, but this is a situation you create for yourself.”
Finally, Gasperini spoke about Cremonese’s equaliser and if goalkeeper Juan Musso was at fault.
“I saw the goal again, it’s a moment. It was a good opportunity for us to restart. Unfortunately it was an unfortunate moment, it’s not just Musso, the ball bounced in front of him, it’s part of football.”
When speaking to DAZN, Gasperini expressed frustration at Luis Muriel’s reaction to being brought off.
“Muriel had a good game but in attack there are players who can give liveliness. When he went off he threw his bib but that’s not a good message.
“In other teams he would play even less, as he participates in practically every game here.”