Gian Piero Gasperini explains how Atalanta demolished Liverpool 3-0 at Anfield, but warns the Europa League quarter-final isn’t over yet. ‘Once they start attacking, they don’t stop.’
These sides met once before in the 2020-21 Champions League group stage, where La Dea were beaten 5-0 at home and then won 2-0 at Anfield, albeit behind closed doors due to the pandemic.
They managed to do even better this time around, emerging with a 3-0 result thanks to a Gianluca Scamacca brace and Mario Pasalic tap-in, while Teun Koopmeiners could easily have scored a couple more goals too, denied one-on-one by Caoimhin Kelleher.
It was put to the coach that this was the ‘masterpiece’ of his career.
“Thank you, it is a remarkable and extraordinary result for Atalanta’s history, for all the fans who came to Liverpool with such passion, for the club that was represented in the stands,” Gasperini told Sky Sport Italia.
“For us to play a Europa League quarter-final at Anfield makes us very proud and getting this result is something that will remain. You don’t always manage to win trophies, but when you can make history for a club like ours, that is worth a lot too.”
Liverpool were unbeaten in 34 competitive matches, winning 23 of their last 26, and their only previous home Europa League defeat was against another Italian team – Udinese – in 2012.
“This is why we are so happy, we played in an historic stadium that is famous all over Europe. We had won here a few years ago, also in Liverpool against Everton, but when we went to Anfield last time it was without fans. This is a completely different sensation. It is wonderful to see how happy the fans were and that is the greatest satisfaction.”
There were circa 2,000 Atalanta fans in the stands at Anfield and the players stayed behind to celebrate with them after the final whistle.
It is even more remarkable considering Gasperini had to reshuffle his defence at the last minute, losing Sead Kolasinac to an adductor issue, so Marten de Roon dropped into the back three.
He also made only one substitution in the entire match, in the final minutes when Aleksei Miranchuk replaced Charles De Ketelaere.
“I did not want to fiddle with the team, I was afraid I might ruin it. Towards the end, perhaps also due to the result, we were so enthusiastic that we actually felt less fatigued than earlier on. So there was no need to make changes.
“Playing together for a long time, we have certain reference points that we can look to. We lost Kolasinac yesterday and that forced us to put De Roon in defence, but I knew that Pasalic was in great shape. What we missed were options to change in midfield, but what we did better compared to previous matches was the courage, the desire to attack them and be aggressive.
“We were also very precise in defence and hardly ever let them come through. We knew it was risky, but if you let Liverpool consistently attack you, they will score eventually. If you put them under pressure, you can create chances and keep them busy.”
The second leg is next Thursday at the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo, but Gasperini is certainly not going to count his chickens, especially as last time Liverpool won 5-0 there.
“Obviously, we are happy with the 3-0 win and it is a good cushion, but Liverpool are an extraordinary team who can score at any moment. In the second leg we need to defend the same way we did, but also attack them the same way too. I don’t know if we’ll be able to create as many chances as we had tonight, but we have to try, because there is no halfway approach with Liverpool. Once they start attacking and scoring goals, they don’t stop.
“I still remember the incredible Champions League Final when Milan were 3-0 up, there seemed to be an abyss between the two teams, but in six minutes they got it back to 3-3. It seemed impossible. That is the spirit of Liverpool, they don’t give up. So in order to go forward, we will have to repeat ourselves.”
Gasperini tends to improve players more than most coaches and is doing that with Scamacca, who can’t seem to stop scoring at the moment.
“He has what it takes to be an extraordinary player, so does Charles De Ketelaere, and they are going through that process. I think this game will really help Scamacca, as there are periods in a match where he switches off, loses focus and enthusiasm. Tonight for the first time he was on it for 90 minutes. It is the only way he can become a high level player, which he is more than capable of becoming.”