Tudor: ‘Atalanta and Gasperini are the model to follow’ | OneFootball

Lazio coach Igor Tudor said that he believes Atalanta and coach Gian Piero Gasperini are ‘the model to follow’ while he gave his pre-match assessments ahead of his side’s final Serie A game of the season against Sassuolo on Sunday evening.

Lazio can not overtake Roma into sixth place before the end of the 2023-24 season, but they can still avoid finishing eighth with a win over Sassuolo. The Neroverdi were officially relegated to Serie B last weekend after an 11-year stay in the top flight.

Along with Inter’s trip to Hellas Verona, Lazio-Sassuolo will be the final game in the final round of Serie A fixtures for 2023-24, although the season will not be completed until Atalanta play out their postponed fixture against Fiorentina on June 2.

Tudor on Atalanta, Kamada, Felipe Anderson and Lazio season

“We want to finish in the best possible way ,by having a great match and I expect a top Lazio against a team that has already been relegated,” Tudor said to begin his pre-match press conference, reported via TMW. “We have to give our best,” he continued.

Reporters asked, off the back of their success in the Europa League final on Wednesday, if Atalanta and their coach Gasperini should be considered as a model for other Serie A clubs.

Tudor replied: “We all know Gasperini’s way of playing football, he has done very well for many years. He, like the club, is a model to follow. The growth has allowed them to become a great team, with good planning, ideas and the coach being at the centre of the project. This is the model to follow not just in Italy, but in the rest of Europe as well.”

Tudor confirmed that last summer’s signing Daichi Kamada has his heart staying on in the capital beyond this upcoming transfer window, despite reports he could be on his way out after just 12 months.

“His will is to stay here, he will have to meet with the club to get things moving forwards. I repeat, the player’s desire is there, we hope to get to a solution very soon.”

The Sassuolo game will also be the last in Biancocelesti colours for long-term servant Felip Adnerson, who has represented the club for eight seasons, split across two spells.

“You know him better than me,” Tudor said of the Brazilian. What I’ve seen is a guy that everyone would love to have on their team. He’s exceptional, and too good from a human point of view. He’s always smiling, doesn’t cause any trouble and has great human values that we always need in the dressing room. He’s also a complete player, one who can play anywhere.”

Then, reflecting on Lazio’s season, and ultimate lack of a fight for Champions League football, Tudor said: “We have grown quite a bit mentally. The last match against Inter was proof of that. They had already won, but they put their best team out.

“I’ve seen every Lazio game this season, and there was a good response, given that Inter are otherworldly. We also made some mistakes, but that’s normal. We have to learn quickly, and in recent months I have learned a lot about my players.”