Gian Piero Gasperini has addressed the media ahead of Atalanta’s Europa League match against Polish side Raków Częstochowa that is set to take place at Gewiss Stadium, Bergamo on Thursday. La Dea have had a mixed start to their Serie A campaign and have won two and lost two of their opening four matches. They are looking to bounce back from a 3-2 defeat away to Fiorentina on Sunday.
Speaking at his press conference ahead of the clash with Raków, Gasperini talked about Atalanta qualifying for European competitions, the defeat against Fiorentina and the importance of European matches:
On qualifying for European competitions: “We have had six years of cups. We are very pleased, it’s the result of the championship, last year, where we earned this qualification on the field. We hope to start again with the same anticipation and the same enthusiasm to create a good run.”
On the defeat against Fiorentina: “There are very balanced matches in the championship. The result was determined by some little gifts we gave, beyond the merit of our opponents. We must start again from the good things we did, we must think about tomorrow’s match. This year we have a season in which we cannot look back, neither when you win nor when you lose.”
On playing in Europe: “We have always had a very strong dressing room, at the start of the championship there have been moments of decline, almost of resignation, but very little if I look at the matches as a whole. In Europe every match is important, there is a higher general focus, but the pace is also higher.”
