Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini was full of praise for Liverpool ahead of their Europa League clash: “They represent the most beautiful style of football.” La Dea travel to Anfield on Thursday evening for the first leg of what promises to be an entertaining clash, and speaking ahead of the game, Gasperini explained why he is looking forward to a full stadium this time round:
“It’s always emotional to come here; it’s one of the most beautiful stadiums in Europe, especially for the atmosphere. Last time, the stadium was empty, and it was a great pity. Tomorrow it will be full, and it will be a great spectacle.”
Transitioning to Atalanta’s current moment ahead of the match against Liverpool, Gasperini explained: “It’s been two defeats that erased the victory against Napoli just a week ago. We play this game to redeem ourselves for the loss against Cagliari, but this is another competition. Liverpool is first in the Premier League, and in my opinion, at the moment, they represent the most beautiful style of football due to the intensity they put in. We will have to give our best to make a good impression, and compared to four years ago, many things have changed. For us, it will be a great experience. We play so much that you don’t have time to celebrate a victory, and then two games are enough to change your mood. This is also the strength of playing in many competitions because you’re immersed in everything. You don’t have to celebrate immediately, but you can also redeem yourself.”
Concluding, speaking about his colleague Klopp: “They are never distracted; they play with great continuity and are accustomed to playing many games. For us, it’s a great opportunity to measure ourselves against the strongest. Klopp has a clear identity; they have other possibilities while Atalanta must sell to rejuvenate and repropose themselves. He has been a reference; his teams are spectacular.”
