Gasperini: ‘Nobody expected’ Atalanta drama with Koopmeiners and Lookman | OneFootball

Gian Piero Gasperini hails Atalanta for ignoring difficulties and off the field problems to crush Lecce 4-0, but ‘nobody expected’ the Ademola Lookman and Teun Koopmeiners situations.

La Dea had every reason to fear this trip to the Stadio Via del Mare, having played an intense UEFA Super Cup clash with Real Madrid in Warsaw on Wednesday.

“We pulled this excellent performance out, it was great in every respect,” Gasperini told Sky Sport Italia.

“This team was in a seemingly difficult situation, but these lads can push past everything, they just get on the pitch and play well. They were eager to play the first game of the Serie A season and did it really well.”

Koopmeiners already withdrew from the squad in trying to force through a Juventus transfer, then yesterday Lookman did the same after an approach from Paris Saint-Germain.

Also missing El Bilal Touré, Nicolò Zaniolo, Gianluca Scamacca, Rafael Toloi, Sead Kolasinac and Giorgio Scalvini, the circumstances were there for an upset, but instead they dominated 4-0 with a brace each for new buys Mateo Retegui and Marco Brescianini.

“I have to congratulate them. Retegui has been here a little longer, but Brescianini only arrived a couple of days ago. They are players I know very well as Serie A opponents and it is to their credit that they settled in so quickly,” continued Gasperini.

“Clearly, there is also a team putting them in a position to do well and get the best out of their characteristics, but they did a brilliant job.”

Gasperini shocked by Atalanta transfer rebels

Inevitably, Gasperini had to be drawn on the elephants in the room, specifically the fact both Koopmeiners and Lookman have effectively downed tools to force exits.

“In all honesty, nobody expected to find ourselves in this situation. At this moment, I am having to take it one day at a time. I had a few thoughts after the Super Cup, but then we ran into all these difficulties, including Scamacca’s injury.

“I don’t know what will happen over the remaining 10 days of the transfer window. My job is to assemble the best squad possible, to see with the club what could be useful to add.

“Clearly, we’ll not have a defined squad until August 31.”

La Dea have tried to be diplomatic about the situation, with CEO Luca Percassi suggesting before kick-off that the door was open for both players to stay this season if the right offers do not come in.