Atalanta Coach Gian Piero Gasperini has admitted that the decision to include young players in his squad helped avoid him getting the sack.
After four defeats in the opening five games, the former Genoa boss was on the brink of being fired. Then, after winning against Crotone, he took the brave decision to field young players against Napoli, a decision that resulted in a 1-0 win over the Partenopei.
Atalanta are now sixth in the table, but what is the secret to the team's success?
Atalanta Coach Gian Piero Gasperini has admitted that the decision to include young players in his squad helped avoid him getting the sack.
After four defeats in the opening five games, the former Genoa boss was on the brink of being fired. Then, after winning against Crotone, he took the brave decision to field young players against Napoli, a decision that resulted in a 1-0 win over the Partenopei.
Atalanta are now sixth in the table, but what is the secret to the team's success?
"Work. It took a bit of time because I found a group of 27 players and then had a nicely timed break that helped me and them," The 58-year-old told Gazzetta dello Sport. "In the team there are some leaders and some young people, an interesting mix that I had to study.
"During training, I realized that a lot of young guys were ready to play. Among other things it is the President's dream to have a lineup composed primarily of young players so I could satisfy him with this.
"If we had been playing well it would be more difficult to put them in. But I knew we had great resources. It was just a case of finding the right time, I had to speed up putting them in the team because of the results.
"I was on the verge of being sacked, it is true. The victory with Crotone helped me, although it was less obvious than you might think, but the real breakthrough came against Napoli.
"I decided to play [Mattia] Caldara and [Roberto] Gagliardini. On Saturday I told the President my formation, who was shaken to the point of not sleeping. But I had made up my mind: I had seen them in training."
Does the support of the President help Gasperinini in what he is trying to acheive?
"Yes, he has always supported me. He likes my philosophy, but before he tried to sign mostly foreigners for economic reasons. Now the situation has changed a bit.
"Age on your ID card doesn’t count, it’s what you do on the pitch. If you run, if you play well, if you have good technique, there is no reason to wait. Often coaches make mistakes. Even though it is fair to say that giving them a place is a risk sometimes.
"At the moment there is a more conservative mentality. It is too early to tell if someone is ready for the National team. Aside Papu Gomez, of course. I just hope Ventura can apply some more of his own ideas.