Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini on Marten de Roon’s performance versus Udinese: “He is my coach on the pitch” | OneFootball

Serie A side Atalanta picked up a 2-1 win over Udinese and they went tied at the top of the table.

La Dea manager Gian Piero Gasperini lauded Marten de Roon’s influence on the team, as the Dutchman played a key role in th performance.

Speaking to the press (via TuttoAtalanta.com) in the post-match conference after beating Udinese by a scoreline of 2-1, Gian Piero Gasperini was quick to applaud Marten de Roon’s performances with Atalanta.

The Italian coach highlighted the defensive midfielder’s game-reading prowess and the ability to dictate the tempo of the match alongside his leadership skills. He said: “He is my coach on the pitch, he interprets situations with great clarity and manages to convey my ideas to his teammates. Playing without him would be difficult because he offers tactical solutions and guarantees balance. He is a point of reference for the whole team.”

This praise from the La Dea manager came after he handed de Roon his 282nd appearance for the club. He is in his ninth season with the Bergamo-based side and has stayed loyal to their project despite receiving several offers over the years.

Atalanta went level on points with league leaders Napoli as a Mario Pasalic strike and an own-goal from Isaak Toure nullified Hassane Kamara’s first-half goal to steer the hosts to the three points. Gasperini’s men are up against Parma next weekend.

Trambak Bhattacherjee | GIFN