Gasperini before Atalanta-Real Madrid

Beating Real Madrid to be ten, as the possible consecutive victories. Freshly leading the league, Atalanta now awaits the European champions at the Gewiss Stadium: “It will be a fantastic evening, for us and for the whole city” says Gian Piero Gasperini on the eve of the rematch of the European Super Cup. “At that moment we thought it was our highest point, we didn’t get there very well due to the vicissitudes of the market.” Real Madrid won 2-0, the enthusiasm was all Blanco for Mbappé’s debut and not only that: today the story is different. Atalanta is fifth in the Champions League standings, Madrid on the edge of the playoff zone.

favorites

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However, the coach from Grugliasco does not want to be influenced by what is said outside, “because no team is favored against Real Madrid: I don’t want to get involved in this little game, we isolate ourselves from this euphoria which is sometimes exaggerated. ranking is momentary, we’re happy about it, but we can’t go from here to thinking we’re superior. I don’t know how many of us thought we’d still have an opportunity like this after 2021.” There was Covid, the stadium was deserted. It seems like a lifetime ago. And Ancelotti was not on the bench: “What can I say about Carlo? He is the best in the world, not only for his history, but for what he does today. And I was sad not to see him collect the Ballon d’Or award “.

choices

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The last minute absence concerns Giorgio Scalvini, stopped by a shoulder problem: “He fell badly, it’s a subluxation and he won’t be there”. He joins Cuadrado and Scamacca on the list of absentees, while Zappacosta is back available: “I can choose and therefore make the wrong formation (laughs, ed.). In these 3-4 months many players have really risen in level, we have changed”. Inevitably for the better, one might add. “Did the president ask me to win? No, he never asks me anything, he points the finger at attitudes. He is also extraordinary for this.”

grindstone

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Alongside the coach is Ademola Lookman, inevitably the most awaited man for the Dea on European nights: “He has become a player with impressive continuity, he has learned to play with the team, he is less individualistic”. “The coach allowed me to work on my game, he put me in a position to be more dangerous: what I am today is thanks to our work.” Top players.