Gian Piero Gasperini suggested he was satisfied with Atalanta’s 1-1 draw with Sporting CP in their Europa League Round of 16 tie, happy to fight for the win at home in the return leg.
La Dea were unlucky not to leave the Portuguese capital with a victory after hitting the woodwork three times across their 90 minute clash with Sporting on Wednesday evening. They initially fell behind after a Paulinho opener before Gianluca Scamacca found the equaliser before half time.
Atalanta will face Sporting in the decisive second leg in Bergamo next week, but beforehand they’ll have to travel to Turin to face a wounded Juventus. Gasperini’s side currently sit sixth in the league table, five points behind fourth place Bologna.
Speaking to Sky Sports Italia via TMW, Gasperini first reacted to Atalanta’s 1-1 draw with Sporting.
“Based on the way the match went and the number of chances, we could’ve done better. Some, like hitting the posts, are quite crazy… But the result is still positive, we will play for the victory at home and we will do it in the best way.”
He touched on the positive performance of Scamacca.
“He was mentally free, he made his plays and he was also unlucky. He played well for the team. If he plays like this there are no problems, he has the numbers. He scored a great goal… The important thing is let him smile, that’s fine.”
The Atalanta coach was asked if the performance took some pressure off ahead of the match with Juventus.
“Against Milan we scored a great point, a bit fortunate undoubtedly. The defeat against Inter was appropriate, even if the result was too much. The real disappointment was against Bologna, we are very disappointed to have lost but we are a team who react.
“And we are lucky enough to play often, even too much. When you win you don’t even savour the victories, but if you lose you start again immediately. It’s a shame not to have won today.”
He was also asked if Sporting’s goal was the only mistake made by Atalanta in the match.
“Yes, but it’s the result of many things and it could be remedied in many moments. The pressure we put on helped us, even in front of our goal for example. We went a bit far on their goal, we shouldn’t have allowed them the time to play. We were a little slow, we were far from the goal.”
Gasperini touched on what these results leave him.
“There are matches like against Milan where the final minutes never pass, in which you defend for a point. And others in which the opponent are in difficulty and you are fine, those you have to win as we tried to do until the end.
“I have a nucleus of players who have the right confidence and personality, then I have more between the flanks and attack who will learn from the older players and then we can win matches.”
Finally, Gasperini discussed his work with Ademola Lookman.
“He wasn’t playing centrally, he scored six or seven goals and was much more on the wing. Now he’s become someone who comes into play in the last twenty meters and is always able to create danger.
“He’s quick and fast, he shots very well and also well-timed headers. Every now and then I push him to become a more complete player, he has the physical ability to do so, sometimes he hides a little but he can be more of a reference point, especially this year.”
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