Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini spoke to the media ahead of his team’s UEFA Champions League match against Shakhtar Donetsk. The Italian coach expressed confidence in his squad’s form following the international break, despite a recent loss to Como.
“We’ve started well after the transfer window closed,” Gasperini stated. “We had that defeat against Como, but the team put in a good performance in Bologna. There are many new players, and we’re integrating everyone progressively.”
Regarding the upcoming match against Shakhtar Donetsk, Gasperini emphasized the quality of the opposition: “This is a group of eight matches, all of which are difficult. These are teams that have won their respective championships. Shakhtar Donetsk believes in Brazilian players. As we’ve already seen against Bologna, they’re a challenging team to face. They’re accustomed to playing in European competitions, so it will be a high-quality match. We need to stay focused for the full 90 minutes. Shakhtar Donetsk may not be Arsenal, but they’re still a valuable team.”
The Atalanta boss also commented on the condition of Nicolò Zaniolo, who recently joined the club: “He was out for several months. He’s regaining decent form. When he arrived, he was struggling to walk or run properly. He needs to take advantage of the opportunities that come his way.”
