Gasperini: Young Boys clash ‘crucial’ for Atalanta’s future in Champions League | OneFootball

Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini hopes his side can take advantage of a ‘very favourable moment’ to beat Young Boys in what he believes to be a ‘crucial’ match that could determine their ‘future’ in the Champions League.

La Dea currently sit ninth in the standings, having picked up two wins and two draws from their first four games of the revamped league phase, and their manager is aware of the importance of getting another victory before facing Real Madrid and Barcelona.

epa11712925 Atalanta’s coach Gian Piero Gasperini during the Italian Serie A soccer match Atalanta BC vs Udinese Calcio at the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo, Italy, 10 November 2024. EPA-EFE/MICHELE MARAVIGLIA

However, Gasperini also warned the Nerazzurri of the dangers that the match could present them with, as they’ll need to ‘adapt’ to their opponents’ synthetic pitch and be ‘very careful’ against a side that already ’caused problems for Inter’, who only emerged 1-0 winners in Switzerland thanks to a Marcus Thuram’s last-gasp strike.

Gasperini urges Atalanta to be ‘careful’ in ‘crucial’ Young Boys clash

“We are in a very favourable moment, we’ve had a strong run in the league, but we’re not the only ones,” Gasperini told Sky Sport Italia ahead of Tuesday’s game, as quoted by Tuttomercatoweb.

“The standings are very tight and Serie A is really exciting. However, this is another competition, it’s the Champions League, and we want to continue the good path we’ve taken so far.

“We have to be very careful, they’ve changed their coach and are doing well in the league. In the Champions League, they caused problems for Inter, and that says a lot.

“I watched their game against Inter, and to be able to cause problems for them, both in terms of rhythm and play, is not easy.

“Inter struggled to play their usual game here, so I expect that kind of Young Boys team. Also, the synthetic pitch is here, we’re not used to it, but we need to adjust quickly because we can’t make excuses.

“It’s better than three years ago, but it’s still synthetic, and we’re not used to it. The bounce is different, the speed is different, and striking the ball is different. It’s obvious. The ball moves at a different speed, and we have to adjust within the first 20-30 minutes.”

PARMA, ITALY – NOVEMBER 23: Players of Atalanta celebrate during the Serie A match between Parma and Atalanta at Stadio Ennio Tardini on November 23, 2024 in Parma, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Asked if the clash against the Swiss side can be decisive in earning La Dea qualification, either directly for the round-of-16 or for the play-offs, Gasperini replied: “Yes, then we’ll have Real Madrid and Barcelona, so this game will be crucial for our future in this competition.”

The Italian tactician is expected to make limited rotations from his side’s last game against Parma, and he remarked that he simply tries to pick ‘the players who are in the best form’ regardless of how many minutes they played in the previous match.

“In general, the players who are in the best form should play,” the coach explained.

“It doesn’t make sense to rest them if they’re in good shape. Every match is difficult, and I always try to put out the best possible line-up.

“But with games every three days, it’s clear that rotation is necessary. I didn’t bring Scalvini because I decided to avoid him on this surface. Then, we have the five substitutions, which are very important and in a way, they are a form of rotation during the match.”