Gian Piero Gasperini warns the 2-1 defeat to Lecce shows why Atalanta are not a ‘top level team’ and recognises they have a very specific weakness.
La Dea had seemed to be the form side in Serie A going into this weekend, especially after beating Lazio 2-0 away, but instead were defeated on home turf by newly-promoted Lecce.
The Salentini did the double over their Bergamo opponents, also winning 2-1 at the Stadio Via del Mare back in November, and confirm their status as giant-killers.
Lecce had only two shots on target and 30 per cent possession, but still won the game.
“We had lots of chances, pushed hard, but everything went wrong,” Gasperini told Sky Sport Italia.
“We always seem to concede these goals early on and if it keeps happening then clearly that is our limitation. Top level teams do not do that on a regular basis and we can’t always complete the fightback.
“On the corner, we usually don’t suffer those situations, but today we conceded with a free header. In these games, it tends to depend on how we start. Sometimes we create too many problems for ourselves and Lecce are a side who know how to neutralise our attacks very well, especially if they take the lead first.”
Atalanta’s Champions League qualification hopes now hang in the balance and next week they go head-to-head with Milan.
“It is more difficult to play against Milan than Lecce, but as I said, it depends also on how it starts. We too often concede goals after the opening five minutes, that is a bad sign.
“Teun Koopmeiners perhaps got too eager to make the difference and push forward rather than act as the midfield fulcrum. We had the chances, we created dangerous situations, but didn’t have the sharpness – both physical and mental – to convert them.”
Much like last season, Atalanta have a far better away record than at home, especially against smaller clubs.
“Our forwards didn’t have the right quality today and we must expect to face teams who won’t allow us many spaces. Having said that, Lecce converted their only two shots on goal – one from 30 metres out and one on a corner – but our problem is that we don’t finish our chances. We had about 20 attacking situations today, we had to get something more from that.”
Gasperini also warned Jeremie Boga that he “has to vary his attacking moves, otherwise he becomes reductive and difficult for the team to sustain.”