Gasperini on Atalanta and Napoli future: ‘I need a challenge’ | OneFootball

Gian Piero Gasperini dropped the biggest hint yet he could leave Atalanta for Napoli, despite securing a Champions League spot. ‘What matters to me is the challenge.’

La Dea needed only three points to guarantee their place in the biggest UEFA tournament for next season and they sealed it with a 2-0 victory away to Lecce this evening.

It was decided by goals from Charles De Ketelaere and Gianluca Scamacca at the dawn of the second half.

This is their return to the top table of European competition after a three-year absence.

“Qualifying for the Champions League is the maximum target for Atalanta, we can’t exactly try to challenge for the Scudetto. Maybe one day Atalanta could, as the club has a radiant future,” Gasperini told Sky Sport Italia.

He was in the stands for this game, as he sat out a touchline ban.

“As far as we are concerned, Champions League qualification is an extraordinary result and these lads are going beyond all expectations. I am truly happy with this and we need to dedicate it to everyone in Bergamo.”

Gasperini looks to the future

The team lost the Coppa Italia Final 1-0 to Juventus on Wednesday and next week will face Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League Final in Dublin.

“Undoubtedly, having the reassurance of this qualification will certainly be extra motivation for the players. We had an incredibly hard season with 53 games so far this term, it feels like 30 in the last two months alone,” continued Gasperini.

“It was a strain, we lost a few, but we won so many big games including the Coppa Italia at San Siro, against Fiorentina, in Europe with Liverpool and Marseille. The last five Serie A wins in a row gave us a push over the line, so we played many of these knockout ties lately.

“We lost the Coppa Italia Final the other day against Juventus and it was the first time I saw a lack of pace and adrenaline in the squad. We were starting to feel the fatigue.

“It was warm tonight and I rested many players. We need the best Atalanta in Dublin, in physical, emotional and technical terms.

“I am so sad for the absence of Marten De Roon, but he will certainly sit on the bench with me and help. It’s a terrible time to get an injury, but we will arrive in Dublin with a clear conscience and the desire to get an extraordinary result for Italy as well as for Atalanta.”

Bayer Leverkusen finished the Bundesliga unbeaten today and are on track to complete a perfect Treble without losing a single match, but Atalanta are in their way.

“I think about that, I also think every run has to end sometime… They dominated the Bundesliga, are like a tank, but we are not afraid of them and will go there to play with courage. In good shape, Atalanta can trouble Bayer Leverkusen too.”

Gasperini was asked about his future after the many links with building a whole new era at Napoli and for the first time he seemed to hint he was truly considering leaving Atalanta after eight years.

The coach was pushed on what will make the difference in his decision.

“We are playing Wednesday, then after that we’ll see. What the difference means to me is the challenge and whether it is credible in the choices and evaluations, that is the most important thing.

“Securing the Champions League place has an enormous value for me, as we work so hard to get into this competition, but the challenge is the most important thing. That is what my career is built on.

“Taking on Bayer Leverkusen is a challenge and then we’ll see what happens,” concluded Gasperini.