Gian Piero Gasperini admits the break for international duty is coming at the wrong time for Atalanta after they crushed Genoa 5-1. ‘We are in a good period of form.’
La Dea had one point from their last two Serie A games, but were buzzing from the midweek 3-0 Champions League victory over Shakhtar Donetsk.
They made short work of Alberto Gilardino’s Genoa in Bergamo, sweeping them aside 5-1 with a Mateo Retegui hat-trick, Ederson scorcher and Marten de Roon volley.
However, once again they failed to keep a clean sheet domestically, allowing Jeff Ekhator a late consolation.
Gasperini sees Atalanta finding their feet
“Obviously, it was a great performance. We are in a good period of form, we beat Shakhtar, but we still see moments like against Como when we just fall apart,” Gasperini told DAZN.
“We are playing every three days, there’s going to be some dips in energy levels, but when we’re on it like this evening, we can fight it out with anyone.”
Just as Atalanta are starting to find their feet after a chaotic summer with numerous changes, many of their players are going away on international duty.
“The timing isn’t great. Even before Como, we had some good performances against Arsenal and Fiorentina, so there have been definite improvements. The result often negatively affects reading of the performance,” continued the coach.
“We have 10 new arrivals, it takes time to get them settled in. The more we play, the easier it will be for them. The best example is Retegui, but many others are doing well too.”
Retegui is now Capocannoniere with seven goals in seven Serie A rounds for Atalanta.
Gasperini today earned the 900th points of his coaching career and famously won the Europa League last season, but can Atalanta challenge for the Scudetto?
“Let’s leave that aside. I am just very pleased to have reached this milestone with Genoa and Atalanta, two of the clubs where I spent the most time. On the other hand, I am sad because it means I’m getting old!”
Grande Gasp