Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini had some harsh advice for Gianluca Scamacca and touched on the mental risks as the team start a new cycle.
La Dea currently sit joint fifth in the Serie A table after 20 games, sitting just a point behind fourth place Fiorentina. They fell just short of securing Champions League qualification last term, ending up six points behind Lazio.
Scamacca joined Atalanta from West Ham last summer in a deal worth around €25m and has struggled to justify his price tag in his first half-season in Bergamo, scoring just six goals and providing two assists in 20 matches across all competitions.
Speaking to L’Eco di Bergamo via TMW, Gasperini first complained about Atalanta’s rescheduled Serie A clash with Inter, changed due to the Supercoppa Italiana.
“It bothered me where they placed that game against Inter, three days after Milan at San Siro. We will be the last to recover, it could’ve been noted that in the previous weeks there was room…”
The Atalanta coach then gave some advice to striker Scamacca.
“He has to run because he isn’t running much. If he’s so undynamic, he won’t be able to do anything good. Even if he has these important qualities…”
He spoke about the choice between the two goalkeepers – Juan Musso and Marco Carnesecchi.
“You can have two goalkeepers of equal value, but the goalkeepers must be there willingly. If this is not the case, I’ve never kept people reluctantly. Carnesecchi returns in the model I intended. For me, the good of the team comes first.”
Gasperini spoke about the risks Atalanta face in the early stages of their new cycle.
“The idea that we start to think like those big clubs who are forced to go to Europe for economic reasons, because if they fail the objective they’ll lack the funds to move forward.
“If Atalanta starts to think like that, they’d become a losing team. Not that going to Europe isn’t important, but it’s more important how you get there. Selling Hojlund is like going to Europe three times.”
Finally, Gasperini made a joke about the European Super League project.
“The system pushes a group of teams, an elite Super League in which Atalanta are a nuisance. But by pushing hard we’ve always managed to be there.”
WOW. 3 yrs after spotting obvious attributes or lack of in this case, FINALLY a coach says it. Genuinely regret not going into coaching. Scamacca is the embodiment of lacking in dynamism. He is easy to play again UNLESS you give him space. He doesn’t run channels, he doesn’t hustle and harry, and nor does he press. He is easy to mark out of games, and that’s why he failed at West Ham.