Gian Piero Gasperini sees a worrying trend for Atalanta after the 2-2 draw with Juventus and explains how they prepared the free kick routine and ‘evolved’ Teun Koopmeiners.
La Dea had to prepare this game in a hurry after Thursday’s 1-1 Europa League Round of 16 draw away to Sporting CP.
They took the lead with a well-worked free kick routine, but were turned around by Andrea Cambiaso and Arkadiusz Milik goals in the space of four minutes.
Koopmeiners completed his brace for the 2-2 final result in Turin, which extends their winless streak to two points from four Serie A games.
“It is always difficult to come here and play well. They had a thousand reasons to want to win and lock down the Champions League place, so seeing our mentality in this situation was really pleasing,” Gasperini told DAZN.
“We had the spaces to go on the counter and add another goal, but Juventus were also pressing us hard. What disappoints me is it’s not the first time we conceded two goals in quick succession. We threw it away against Bologna like that, at least we got a point this time, but we need to be more careful.”
How satisfying was it for Gasperini to see a free kick routine off the training ground work so well in a match situation?
“We had gone close in another Serie A match. They tested it out in training this morning, there were a few different alternatives and the lads did well to choose the best one.”
Koopmeiners has gone from strength to strength with Atalanta and his price-tag is now believed to be in the region of €50m.
“We always try to put our players in the conditions to give their best, but the quality is all theirs. Koopmeiners has been improving year on year, he is evolving so well and is also very versatile.
“He can play as a deep-lying midfielder, in front of the defence and when he joined us from the Netherlands was playing sometimes as a central defender! I spotted he had an eye for goal and moved him to a more advanced role.”
This leaves Atalanta in sixth place, four points off Bologna in fourth, but Roma have an opportunity against Fiorentina tonight to consolidate fifth.
“Inter deserve everything they are getting this season, they are superior to everyone else, but Juventus and Milan are good too. We were not fortunate in those two matches against Inter, while we had zero points home and away against Bologna, so that is the big difference in the table right now.”
Atalanta also drew 1-1 in Lisbon for the first leg of the Europa League Round of 16 against Sporting CP and have the decider in Bergamo next week.
“Sporting have a lot of quality, they’ve got pace and are top of their league ahead of Benfica even with a game in hand. We had the chance to win on their turf and with a bit of bad luck, hitting the woodwork three times, we didn’t get it.
“The trouble with playing every three days is that you never know what condition you will be in. We were in better shape on Thursday, we’ll see what the situation is next week.”