Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini stressed his Orobici ‘will be ready’ for the new season but has not set a target for 2021-22. ‘I don’t start with a side that have to win the championship’.
La Dea travel to Turin to face Torino in the opening game and Gasperini spoke to the press ahead of the match against Ivan Juric’s side.
The Orobici finished third in Serie A 2020-21 and qualified for the third consecutive season, but Gasperini doesn’t ‘raise the bar’ like the fans and journalists in Italy.
“You raise the bar, that’s OK with me,” Gasperini said at a press conference. “I don’t want to take away anyone’s dreams, but it’s not like I have to.
“For us, it’s like having won championships, we hope to continue further. It’s not so obvious and to repeat it.
“I don’t start with an Atalanta side who have to win the championship, that’s the way it is for me. We know the difficulties that exist in this championship.
“I’m happy that we can play despite the few friendlies and with the hiccups in the preparations. Even now we are facing an incomplete situation, there are injuries and suspensions.
“I don’t start with a target, there are many strong teams and some that will do better than in previous years.
“I think we have a good way to play, that’s a guarantee on one hand, but not a result. I would not have wanted to be like this in an emergency, but it’s not an excuse.
“But it concerns many teams. The championship starts tomorrow, we will be ready.”
Duvan Zapata has been linked with a move away from Atalanta this summer and Gasperini has admitted the transfer market disturbs.
“The fact of having two games with the market still open, anything can happen,” he continued. “It’s not the best situation. But we can’t change it.
“Lovato has recovered. Then there are [Marten] de Roon, [Remo] Freuler, Enrico Del Prato and [Rafael] Toloi disqualified. Zapata must rest for 15 days, we hope to have him back for the third match.”
Gasperini said he thinks the Colombian striker, who reportedly wants to join Inter, will remain at the Gewiss Stadium.
“I think so, but it’s my thought. I don’t know what can happen, it’s a very strange market with few movements and then there are sensational transfers with remarkable figures,” he said. “I find it hard to make predictions.”
Juric’s men started with a win on penalties against Cremonese in the Coppa Italia and Gasperini expects a tough battle with the Croatian coach.
“I expect a difficult game,” he said. “Juric is the right coach to relaunch an important place and with a visceral attachment to the team, I think he’s the right person.
“It’s not easy for any coach to immediately make an impact on the team. But he has proven to have the ability to work well.
“He will give them great satisfaction.”