Atalanta President Antonio Percassi admitted ‘it’s not easy’ to work with coach Gian Piero Gasperini and revealed the match against Manchester United in the Champions League is a dream come true.
Atalanta have lived incredible years under Gasperini and are currently playing in the Champions League for the third consecutive season.
The President and the coach have combined to find a way to take the next step and fight at the top of Italian football, subsequently leading to even greater things in Europe.
“I want to thank you,” Percassi said at the Sala Gaber of the ‘Pirellone’, where he received the Person of the Year award by GLGS-USSI Lombardia.
“This recognition goes to reward our employees, our managers, the staff, the coach and the players. Our goal is to continue in this direction.
“We will not change the set-up of the last few years, with the last three years in the Champions League. Which is madness, it’s crazy to think that Atalanta have arrived here.”
He was presented with the budget, where the Orobici have grossed over €250m and are still competing in the top of Serie A.
“Yes. But we have also invested a lot,” he said. “This is our policy, we have found the right model and we hope to continue, even if there are many teams who want to emulate us.”
Percassi has given great faith to coach Gasperini, but admitted it’s not always easy to work with the tactician.
“It’s not easy,” he revealed. “But by now we have adopted him and above all understood him. After the games we allow him to let off steam and then we know that the next day he is much more peaceful.
“But he’s like this and his way of doing things stimulates the players and the club in a special way. When he has his say, he makes himself heard and doesn’t give the lads an opportunity to be complacent.”
La Dea play Manchester United at Old Trafford on October 20, but the patron will not travel with the team.
“I’m staying home,” he said and laughed. “It’s a crazy game, just thinking about going there to play is a dream for an Atalanta fan like I have always been.”