A Tense Week for Atalanta
Gian Piero Gasperini, Atalanta’s head coach, finds himself in a turbulent week following the team’s Champions League play-off defeat to Club Brugge. Compounding the team’s struggles was a very public spat with striker Ademola Lookman. The controversy erupted when Lookman insisted on taking a penalty, a move that Gasperini vehemently opposed, describing the forward as "one of the worst penalty takers I’ve ever seen." Despite the tension, the coach has maintained a professional stance, emphasizing that the team is focused on moving forward.
A Professional Approach to Reconciliation
In a surprising turn of events, Lookman returned to the starting lineup against Empoli after an absence of nearly a month. The striker’s performance was nothing short of stellar, netting two impressive goals in the 5-0 victory. When Lookman was substituted late in the game, he shook hands with assistant manager Tullio Gritti but notably bypassed Gasperini. When asked about the decision to start Lookman, Gasperini downplayed the controversy: “I don’t know what you mean by professional. We are all professionals here. We had a good game, we scored some good goals.”
Competing for the Scudetto
The emphatic win over Empoli has put Atalanta in a strong position in the Serie A standings. They are now just three points behind the leaders, Inter, and two points behind Napoli. Gasperini, who has always been cautious about Atalanta’s Scudetto aspirations, is now cautiously optimistic. “We have an extraordinary position in the table after 26 rounds. The next match is against Venezia, which is again by no means easy, so we hope to get closer to one or both when the head-to-head is next weekend. I think Atalanta’s campaign has been extraordinary and we are very proud of that,” he told Sky Sport Italia.
The Challenges Ahead
The race for the Scudetto is far from over, and Gasperini is acutely aware of the hidden dangers that lie ahead. “A lot can also depend on the moments when you play certain fixtures. There are quality teams near the bottom of the table and if you are not at 100 per cent, they can cause you huge problems.” As the season progresses, the top clubs will face increasingly decisive matches, and the coach believes that maintaining peak performance will be crucial. “We’re also getting into the latter stages of the season that become decisive with many games starting to weigh on the top clubs. There are many hidden dangers out there, which is what makes Serie A so fascinating.”
Reflecting on the Season
Gasperini’s initial expectations for the season have been surpassed. “We have been very unlucky with a series of injuries, especially Scalvini and Scamacca who were just coming back and then we lost them again, plus Kossounou. I cannot say that I expected us to be up there, I said earlier this season that if we were still up there with 10 rounds to go, then we’d talk. Now there are 12 to go and we’re up there. We were also top of the table for a while.” The coach’s honesty reflects the team’s resilience and the unexpected success they have achieved.
Embracing the Possibility of Glory
Gasperini’s initial reluctance to consider Atalanta as title contenders has given way to a more open-minded approach as the season progresses. “I will be honest, in June after we won the Europa League and had certain plans, I looked around and thought Inter were the only real option for the title, then we’d challenge for the other positions. What Napoli have done is also extraordinary, but if we are up there, then we may as well keep trying.” With Inter and Napoli set to face each other in the coming weeks, Atalanta has a golden opportunity to strengthen its position and chase the Scudetto.
