Alberto Malesani’s Parma were the last Italian team to lift the UEFA Cup, now Europa League 25 years ago so the ex-Italian tactician pushes Atalanta to repeat the Gialloblu’s feat: ‘It’s about time.’
Enrico Chiesa, Hernan Crespo, Gigi Buffon, Fabio Cannavaro, Lilian Thuram and Nestor Sensini were some of the Serie A legends playing for Parma 25 years ago, the last time that a Serie A club lifted the UEFA Cup, now called Europa League.
The Ducali beat Olympique Marseille 3-0 in a Final in Moscow with goals from Crespo, Chiesa and Paolo Vanoli. Malesani was in charge of that legendary team and the 69-year-old previewed tonight’s Europa League Final between Atalanta at Bayer Leverkusen in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport.
La Dea are the underdogs in Dublin, as highlighted by pundits and tipsters on Crypto casinos, but Malesani remains confident about Atalanta’s chances.
“It’s a tough game, tactically unpredictable. The Germans haven’t lost a game for a long time, but Gasperini’s men can give great emotion when they are on their day,” he said.
“I like Atalanta, I have fun watching them play. They need to be at the peak of their form to play as they know, a football based on aggression and dominance. Over the last few years, Atalanta have been the real news in the Italian football panorama.”
There are analogies between this Atalanta side and Malesani’s Parma.
“Bergamo is a provincial city, like Parma, so this is the first analogy. In both cases, there are solid and structured clubs. Another common feature is the playing style,” noted the ex-coach.
“We wanted to reach results through our playing style, which is what Atalanta do as well. Gasp’s lads knocked out Liverpool, not a small team. My Parma side beat Atletico Madrid away in the semifinals, inside a Calderon Stadium that shouted any sort of thing against us. And before that, we had scored six goals past Bordeaux.”
So, what will they need to lift the cup?
“Courage, first of all. They play man-on-man, and to do so, you must be very well prepared physically and have confidence. I appreciate Gasperini’s tactical organisation. Every player knows what to do and does it well. I’d try to take the initiative away from Leverkusen and prevent them from keeping possession. In defence, they don’t seem so smart.”
Who will be the key players for Atalanta?
“One above all, Scamacca. He has physicality, power and technique and it seems to me that he’s hungry,” said Malesani.
“His absence in the Coppa Italia Final was felt, with him on the pitch, it would have been a different game.”
However, Atalanta have never played a European Final before, but Malesani does not fear that the pressure will be tricky for the Nerazzurri.
“It could be on paper, but I think Atalanta are accustomed to certain stages. So go all the way because this could be the right time. And it would be about time, after 25 years,” he concluded.