Empoli manager Roberto D’Aversa addressed the media ahead of his team’s difficult clash against league leaders Atalanta. The coach acknowledged the formidable challenge ahead but expressed confidence in his team’s ability to compete.
D’Aversa began by praising Atalanta’s recent form: “Atalanta is coming off an extraordinary moment. It’s a very difficult match, so we must be ready to face a challenging encounter. Gasperini has brought this team to great levels. The regret is facing them a bit battered. But we are convinced we can put them in difficulty. We are not facing a provincial team but a great squad.”
When asked about the team’s preparation, D’Aversa highlighted the benefits of having a longer week to recover: “This week the calendar allowed us to work, and good work was done after two days of well-deserved rest. The boys have always done excellent things, they have even gone beyond expectations.”
The coach remained coy about his starting lineup, stating he would decide at the last moment based on player availability. He provided updates on key players Fazzini and Grassi, noting that Fazzini would be part of the match but not from the start, while Grassi was still being evaluated.
D’Aversa drew an inspiring comparison between Empoli’s progress and Atalanta’s success: “I believe that if we think about where we started, I believe my boys are doing, in proportion, what Atalanta is doing. They have a very prepared coach, Atalanta is a source of inspiration for us because they are demonstrating they can bring players to their maximum condition.”
Addressing the team’s recent lack of clinical finishing against Torino, D’Aversa emphasized the need for improvement: “Looking back at the numbers of the game and the chances, it’s clear that there should be regret. We had many opportunities, a lot of possession. With Atalanta, we will probably have fewer chances, but we must also think about not making mistakes.”
When asked about his expectations for the match, D’Aversa stated: “I want to see the team play with compactness and determination.”
The coach concluded by acknowledging Empoli’s achievement in reaching the Coppa Italia quarterfinals but stressed the need to focus on the league: “It should be a source of pride for the club, given the many young players fielded, but right now I struggle to think about the match against Juve in January.”
