Gian Piero Gasperini insists Atalanta can aim for the top four after a hard-fought win away to Torino, but warns aiming higher than that ‘risks leaving people frustrated and disappointed.’
The win was needed at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino to keep La Dea in the running for a European place, as the top four is still entirely within reach.
Atalanta are now on 55 points, only two behind Milan and Roma in fourth and fifth place, awaiting Inter’s result against Lazio on Sunday.
Considering Napoli are ready to win the Scudetto with a limited budget, could Atalanta aim even higher next season?
“There is no limit, but I fear this sort of reasoning risks leaving people frustrated and disappointed,” Gasp told Sky Sport Italia.
“There are very few teams who can win the Scudetto or the Champions League. I think it is better to keep up a good average and impress without trying to be top of the class, otherwise we risk being unhappy at all times.”
Davide Zappacosta and Duvan Zapata goals were fairly similar, solo runs to the by-line and scoring from tricky angles, temporarily interrupted by an Antonio Sanabria equaliser.
“It was not easy, because Torino are a difficult side to face. It was not a great performance from us, but we allowed Torino very little and only conceded on a deflected effort. What we did do was react well and this extraordinary goal from Duvan gives us three fundamental points,” Gasperini told Sky Sport Italia.
“Now we have the opportunity to take our chances with most of the remaining games on home turf. This is Week 32, we’ve been in and around the European places since the start of the season, it is still wide open and nothing is decided.
“Our first objective is to catch one of the teams ahead of us, then we’ll see. It is going to be a completely different match against Spezia, as they are in an increasingly desperate situation and that gives them a particular motivation.”
Duvan Zapata had not found the net since the game against Lecce in November 2022, but after months of injury issues, the Colombian finally seems back to his best.
“I always thought that when a team is solid, you need the strikers to win the games. Duvan is indispensable, I have always been convinced it was just a matter of getting him free of injuries. It’s true of all of them, Muriel, Hojlund and we also hope to get Lookman available again too.
“In modern football, you need options off the bench who are fired up, motivated and can make the most of those extra spaces left by tired legs, so the more forwards we have at our disposal, the better.”
Torino coach Ivan Juric was his protégé as a player first and then assistant manager, one of many coaches currently around Serie A and B who learned from Gasperini and consider him something of a grandfather of their tactical ideas.
“Grandfather… Uncle is better! We have to accept what our best characteristics are at this moment and with the squad that is available. My job is to make the team efficient and right now we do not have the quality or the physical strength to play a different type of football.
“There are many different ways of playing football. When we have different types of games against different opponents, we need more forwards and a stronger attacking approach.”