Gian Piero Gasperini feels Atalanta reaching the Europa League Final reminds people that ‘football is meritocracy’ and there is ‘hope’ beyond Superleagues.
Atalanta will face Bayer Leverkusen in the Final in Dublin on Wednesday May 22.
“We are playing many games, it is not easy to always play well and in some of those matches we struggle, but tonight was a fine victory,” said Gasperini in his press conference.
“I already said yesterday, when there is a whole city embracing us, the players feel that energy and that emotion. It was a special match and they played it the best way.
“I think the Final is going to be an historic occasion and for a club like ours it’s truly incredible, but this bodes well for everyone. Statistics seem important, it feels necessary to set up a European Superleague, but the example set by Atalanta can give hope.
“Football is a meritocracy and that is what makes the game beautiful, not because you inherit some genetic rights through your lineage.”
Always attacking under Gasperini
La Dea had never previously made it to a UEFA tournament Final, but it never really seemed to be in doubt this evening after the creditable 1-1 draw in the first leg at the Stade Velodrome.
They hit the woodwork twice and tested Pau Lopez, but also ran out 3-0 winners with goals from Ademola Lookman, Matteo Ruggeri and El-Bilal Toure for a 4-1 aggregate victory.
Gasperini did not hold back, starting Gianluca Scamacca, Lookman, Charles De Ketelaere and Teun Koopmeiners together.
“This is our DNA, we had everything required to play an attacking game with a trident made of pure strikers. That is our strength, even if we could’ve converted more of our opportunities, because it was open until Ruggeri’s goal for 2-0.
“I am really happy for Ruggeri, he scored an extraordinary goal, he is a great representative of Atalanta, having grown up in our academy.”
Atalanta have made their way past Sporting CP – twice – Liverpool and now Olympique Marseille to reach the Final of the Europa League.
“Every time we conceded five goals, I thought about potentially playing in a different way, but me and my assistant Tullio Gritti – we’re stubborn. This season we have managed to have a great run and also continue with our identity.”
Gasperini era defined Atalanta
It is an extraordinary campaign for Atalanta, who are also in the Coppa Italia Final against Juventus on May 15 at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.
Meanwhile, this Sunday they go head-to-head with Roma in Serie A for fifth place, which would mean qualification for the Champions League.
“We know full well it’s not over, that we have many big games to play, but the Europa League is the most prestigious.”
Roma came close to beating Bayer Leverkusen this evening, leading 2-0 only to end 2-2 in stoppages, so can Atalanta end that unbeaten record that now stands at 49 games?
“We met Leverkusen two years ago. Perhaps the Final is between two teams who the TV companies aren’t too happy about, but it does give hope to many teams. It means you can play good football without having millions of fans all over the world. Football is also the 14,000 seen tonight in Bergamo.”
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