Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini has claimed Hellas Verona coach Ivan Juric shares his approach, as La Dea aim to confirm their place in the Champions League on Saturday.
Speakin to the Nerazzurri's official channel, Gasperini focused mainly on claiming the two points remaining to confirm their place in the European Cup next season.
Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini has claimed Hellas Verona coach Ivan Juric shares his approach, as La Dea aim to confirm their place in the Champions League on Saturday.
Speakin to the Nerazzurri's official channel, Gasperini focused mainly on claiming the two points remaining to confirm their place in the European Cup next season.
“Two points are missing to secure qualification for the Champions League,” he told the club’s official website. “When we have reached one target, we add another. It’s good, it’s important to always set goals. Let’s move forward.
“There are five games remaining and the programme is difficult for everyone. It should be a good battle, also to keep up the motivations and prepare us for the Champions League.”
Atalanta have done will to utilise the whole squad and Gasperini is happy to be able to count on every single player at his disposal.
“It has been satisfying, everyone has played well and it therefore allowed me to rotate,” he added. “Some players have recovered physically; in the long run it can be tiring to play every three days.”
Atalanta can’t stop scoring this term, with Duvan Zapata, Luis Muriel and Josip Ilicic all on double digits in Serie A, whilst Mario Pasalic and Robin Gosens can join them if they add another to their tally against Verona.
“It’s part of the stats of a season with many records, we know them too. It’s a great pleasure but the priority is to continue expressing ourselves and play this way in order to get the most from it.”
But Gasp is wary of high-flying Verona, who sit ninth under the guidance of Juric this season.
“Hellas were in the running for seventh, I would say deservedly so. I think they’re the revelation this season, also because of the style of play they have developed.
“Tomorrow, it will be a difficult game for us, just like the reverse fixture was. It will be an excellent test, a game with intensity. That’s something we don’t always find in this period.”
The match will be played at 16:15 UK time and Gasperini joked it was to test them further.
“To increase the level of difficulty,” he laughed. “Sometimes we need to play these kinds of games. It will be a thrilling game.”
Luis Muriel watched from the stands after having suffered a head injury prior to the match against Brescia and Gasp confirmed he’s back in contention on Saturday.
“Muriel is fine, he has been training. He might be available, right now we are all ready, apart from Ilicic. We are trying to recover him in the best way from a physical point of view.”
The 62-year-old went on to claim that his former player Juric share similar ideas to Orobici for his Verona.
“There are similarities in the interpretation of the games. Juric was my player, but also my collaborator.
“We spent a lifetime together and shared a lot from Crotone to Genoa. Now, he has reached his levels, he won a historic championship in Crotone.
“It’s happening again this year, he had a hole with Genoa, but it wasn’t easy there. I’m sorry about that. We will take a nice picture together.”