Gasperini after Atalanta-Sturm Graz and thinking about Barcelona

Gian Piero Gasperini can smile, and he has reason to. First success in 2025, after a month, first home victory in the Champions League, guaranteed qualification for the playoffs, 14 points and a goal difference of +14, with the possibility of competing for a place in the top eight in Barcelona: “It was needed – he states to Sky in the post after the 5-0 win against Sturm Graz – the victory came at the right time, we had a good run in the Champions League, with a difficult calendar: at home we faced Arsenal and Real Madrid, that haunted match against Celtic. We did well to win the three away games, in the first half we didn’t do very well on a technical level, then we improved.”

first eight

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On the last day the Dea will fly to Barcelona with the possibility of also playing for a place in the top eight, which would mean direct round of 16 skipping a round: “We will go with boldness, but without losing humility: we are playing against a very strong team and, as in all matches, we will try to get the maximum. And then we’ve never met her, so it will be a great stimulus.” The main theme on which Gasperini is now focusing is the expansion of the squad. And if they don’t arrive from the market – “I think the club wants to stay like this and do nothing”, he says – the reinforcements are to be found in the players available, where value is not lacking: “There is a nucleus that in decisive moments it’s always very competitive, now we’re growing: Cuadrado, Brescianini, Samardzic are making a fundamental contribution to broadening the value of the squad’s performances.”

scamacca and zaniolo

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Gianluca Scamacca could also soon be available again, having returned to running on the pitch a few days ago: “Him or Retegui? They can play together, it’s not that impossible: the important thing is that Gianluca recovers his best condition. He needs to be run in and it will take a few weeks, but I will try to bring him into the group as soon as possible.” And he concludes: “Lookman and De Ketelaere have unique characteristics, but they don’t have a replacement, unless Zaniolo becomes one. In attack it is essential to have decisive players.”