Yahoo Sports Gasperini: ‘Atalanta deserved victory, Fonseca distracting from Milan’
Gian Piero Gasperini feels Atalanta ‘thoroughly deserved’ to beat Milan and accuses Paulo Fonseca of trying to ‘distract’ from the result. ‘Let the fans sing’ about the Scudetto after nine straight wins.
Gasperini continues to sit out his two-match touchline ban with Tullio Gritti on the bench, but it doesn’t seem to be affecting his team’s form, as they registered a ninth consecutive Serie A victory this evening.
That is a club record, one they had already achieved between February and July 2020, and puts them temporarily top of the table awaiting Napoli’s match with Lazio on Sunday.
Charles De Ketelaere and Ademola Lookman met set plays at the back post to beat Milan 2-1, around the Alvaro Morata equaliser.
“Naturally, this is a great victory against a team with undoubtedly very talented players among the best in the league and we thoroughly deserved the win. All the statistics were in our favour in a difficult match,” Gasperini told Sky Sport Italia.
“Milan had a huge chance after a few seconds, then a minute later we had a big opportunity. The equaliser was frankly a bad move from us, we allowed them to get that pass through. We were worried about their pace and pressing, but for the most part we managed to neutralise those strengths and built some very good scoring opportunities of our own.
“In the second half, Milan did less, but we never settled for a point, we never wasted time, never threw ourselves to the ground, we wanted to win the game and were rewarded for that attitude. Indeed, Retegui could’ve scored a third in stoppages.”
Gasperini responds to furious Fonseca
Milan coach Fonseca was furious in his post-match interview a few minutes before Gasperini came to the microphone, accusing the referee of ‘lacking respect’ towards his team and steering the match in Atalanta’s direction.
“If this is an attempt to talk about something else and distract attention away from the match, then that’s his prerogative,” responded Gasperini.
“The De Ketelaere goal was an extraordinary leap into the sky. I don’t remember any other incidents that were debatable, unless maybe some throw-ins.
“I would put the focus less on Milan and more on Atalanta’s performance. I might be biased, but I thought we absolutely deserved to win the match.”
The fans at the Gewiss Stadium were chanting ‘we will win the Scudetto’ at the final whistle, so even the coach is tired of trying to calm this wave of enthusiasm.
“I don’t think that ever happened in Bergamo that they’d sing that after 15 games, so let them sing! We’d never been top of the table this far into the season, they had decades of struggle, so let them enjoy it.
“The people of Bergamo have their feet firmly on the ground, so don’t take anything for granted. If we were still up there after another 20 games, it’d be different, but as things stand it is an expression of joy and a deserved one too.”
Gasperini has been at the club for practically a decade now, so is this his best Atalanta squad so far?
“It is a very different Atalanta. I remain fond of all my teams, from the first of which there is only one player left – Toloi – to this version. The results have been remarkable, but I am not the person to put these teams in any kind of order.”
Atalanta are in action on Tuesday against Real Madrid in the Champions League, where they remain unbeaten and are on track for a top eight finish.
“Tomorrow we can watch the other games, then on Tuesday it is another extraordinary night for the city of Bergamo and for this club. The first target of getting through in the Champions League is close, but we can aim for a little more too.”
Atalanta lost to Real Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup in August, but are they the favourites going into Tuesday’s clash?
“That’s subjective, I wouldn’t say that, but I’ll take anything tonight!” laughed Gasperini.
