Atalanta owner Antonio Percassi insists he is ‘with’ Gian Piero Gasperini after the coach came under criticism for his handling of coronavirus symptoms.
Percassi is celebrating 10 years since he returned to serve as Atalanta’s President, but his interview with L’Eco Di Bergamo to mark the occasion was overshadowed by a question about Gasperini.
Atalanta owner Antonio Percassi insists he is ‘with’ Gian Piero Gasperini after the coach came under criticism for his handling of coronavirus symptoms.
Percassi is celebrating 10 years since he returned to serve as Atalanta’s President, but his interview with L’Eco Di Bergamo to mark the occasion was overshadowed by a question about Gasperini.
“I’m with Gasperini and the players, I’m looking forward,” Percassi told the newspaper.
“The controls say that, like Atalanta with our members, we did everything in compliance with the rules and with the utmost prudence. For us that’s crucial. This is Bergamo.”
The Dea resume the season in the Champions League quarter-finals, so how does the patron rate their chances?
“You can come back with two games. But if we win the first game then it would be fine not to play another…
“I’m not thinking about the Champions League, although I would say Lourdes, Medjugorje, Caravaggio [names of Catholic pilgrimages].
“However, the fight for the Champions League will be fierce: there are few points of difference and many unknowns.”
The 66-year-old then hailed Duvan Zapata for ‘pulling everyone together’ following his return from injury.
“Atalanta are a group of lads, each of them has their own task. There are games in a row and the coach knows how to manage the lads very well.
“However, I’d like to think that, after his injury, it’s Zapata who has pulled everyone together.
“This tragedy stopped Atalanta in the best period of their history: fourth in Serie A and in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
“But just because we’re Atalanta, we won’t give up anything.”