According to TuttoMercatoWeb, Atalanta coach Gasperini gave an interview to DAZN ahead of the match against Internazionale, discussing the team's start to the season and title ambitions, among other topics.
"I've been looking forward to this for a long time, and we've already gelled well," Gasperini said. "Compared to last year, we have a year of playing together under our belts, so we have an advantage at the start."
Speaking about the team's growth, Gasperini said, "This is a self-improving team, made up of young players and older but equally valuable players. Everyone contributes something; the young players bring vitality and are always ready to play, while the established players set an example for everyone with their training attitude."
Regarding the young players, Gasperini stated, "All young players want to grow and learn; they don't see themselves as already successful. Every day they bring freshness and a desire to improve, which helps the whole team. They also have strong abilities themselves; otherwise, other factors alone wouldn't be enough."
When asked about Dybala and Malen, Gasperini said, "They complement each other very well; their characteristics are a perfect fit. Dybala can spot Malen's runs and deliver the ball accurately. Malen, on the other hand, has an excellent ability to turn seemingly simple attacks into goals."
Discussing the Champions League, Gasperini commented, "Qualifying for the Champions League last year was not a given result, nor was it expected. Of course, we all hope to qualify for the Champions League. The Champions League helps you overcome some hurdles, gives you the opportunity to play against the best teams in Europe, and puts you in a more complex competitive environment, which helps you grow."
On the strengths and weaknesses of Atalanta, Gasperini stated, "We certainly still have some weaknesses; otherwise I'd have nothing to do. I will continue to look for them in more detail, but we have already solved some of the big problems. The biggest strength is the unity between the environment, the team, the fans, and the club. This helps you work better and gives you confidence."
Speaking about his relationship with the city of Bergamo, Gasperini said, "The atmosphere here has had a positive impact on me. There's a strong passion here; everyone loves this team very much. From the beginning, I've tried to integrate here with the professional attitude I've always maintained throughout my career, hoping to earn recognition through my work. Now I feel a lot of recognition around me, and this has become my motivation to continue repaying that trust."
Regarding the goal of competing for the Serie A title, Gasperini said, "All sorts of predictions can be made; people have their dreams and want to pursue the highest goals, which is normal. But for us, we must face reality. Only after playing about 20 matches is it appropriate to talk about specific goals. The season is still very long, and it's hard to draw conclusions so early. We are confident and hope to stay at the top of the standings; that's the goal."
Speaking about the upcoming matches against Internazionale and Real Madrid, Gasperini said, "You forgot Como; they will arrive before Real Madrid, and I think Como is also a strong team. Internazionale and Real Madrid are both teams with great history and strength. We have already earned the opportunity to play against Internazionale by being top of the league, and we have qualified to face Real Madrid in the Champions League. For us, these are tests to see what we can achieve against these teams."
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