Gian Piero Gasperini vented his anger at critics of Atalanta in the media, insisting that failure to qualify for Europe should not be treated as ‘a total failure.’
La Dea return to the field in Serie A on Wednesday with a trip to Spezia at 13.30 GMT.
They ended 2022 in poor form, losing four of their last five games, and were defeated 1-0 at home by AZ Alkmaar in a friendly test last week.
Juan Musso sprained his ankle in that game, joining Merih Demiral on the treatment table, while Hans Hateboer is only fit for the bench.
“After such a long lay-off, it’s as if we were starting the season,” said the coach in his press conference.
“Spezia have improved over time and are out of the danger zone, so won’t feel a great deal of pressure.
“As for us, if the season were to end today, we’d be in the Europa League. If we just look at four defeats in the last five games, that looks like a disaster, whereas over the whole campaign it has been very good. In 2022 we were lacking something in our home games and that was true of the last friendly as well.”
Gasperini turned his attention towards the media around Atalanta and lashed out at those who claim his era has come to an end after three consecutive seasons in the Champions League.
“There has been this ridiculous controversy around everything, I believe it’s more important to have a quality squad than a large squad, as big squads are only good for clouding reality. That is my choice, I have always done that and everyone can have their own ideas.
“There are some people in Bergamo trying to fire up controversy, some people I won’t give interviews too, as I feel like they are a millstone around Atalanta’s neck.
“I try to do my best, I am worried because every day someone writes that Atalanta are a big club and missing out on Europe represents a total failure. Atalanta can look to the future with positivity and calm.
“I don’t recognise this mentality, we are relatively close to the top spots, crowded in with the big clubs, so it’s difficult for me to understand this situation created by the media in Bergamo.
“I read some crazy things after the Lecce game, we were missing a lot of players that day and had some problems in defence. I showed the Serie A table to the players yesterday, because reading the media you might think it was a disastrous situation, but it’s really not that bad.”
Atalanta are in joint sixth place with Jose Mourinho’s Roma, only three points adrift of Inter and Lazio.