Angry Gasperini slams ‘intolerable’ Zaniolo card for celebration | OneFootball

Gian Piero Gasperini openly called out Nicolò Zaniolo for teasing Cagliari fans after scoring the winner for Atalanta. ‘It is intolerable.’

The coach was already angry during his post-match television interviews, despite his team securing a 10th consecutive Serie A victory to stay top of the table.

He complained that not everyone in the squad was “mature” enough to challenge for the Scudetto, urging them to learn from the “old guard” in the group.

By the time that he got to the press conference, Gasperini confessed he had been specifically talking about summer signing Zaniolo.

“Zaniolo scored a good goal and had some good moves when he came on, he has certainly improved in terms of his dynamism,” said the coach.

“He has to work more on maintaining the right position and defending, especially in the final stages.

“What we cannot afford is that every tine he scores a goal, he fires up the crows and turns an advantage into a disadvantage. At that moment, Cagliari were stunned and we managed to create a situation where the crowd fired them up again.

“This is already the second time he has done that and it is intolerable.”

Gasperini furious at Zaniolo attitude

CAGLIARI, ITALY – DECEMBER 14: Gian Piero Gasperini coach of Atalanta reacts during the Serie A match between Cagliari and Atalanta at Sardegna Arena on December 14, 2024 in Cagliari, Italy. (Photo by Enrico Locci/Getty Images)

Zaniolo had whipped off his shirt and was booked for over-celebrating when scoring against his former club Roma at the Stadio Olimpico.

If he had some reason to be particularly eager to celebrate that goal in his old hunting ground, there was no real reason for Zaniolo to rush under the section of Cagliari supporters and shout at them.

That too earned him a yellow card and saw the crowd jeer his every move for the rest of the game.

Zaniolo is only on loan from Galatasaray with an option to buy that can become an obligation, but the issue of his poor attitude has followed him around throughout his career.

Gasperini continued to hint that not everyone was helping to defend in the closing stages against Cagliari.

“I have a very competitive squad that at times, when not all 11 are playing together, manages to cover for the difficulties of some others. However, if we want to stay where we are in the table, we need to improve.

“If I have to reproach the team for something, it’s that we could’ve been more effective in attack during the closing stages and therefore suffered less.

“Fortunately, we have some warriors who are accustomed and ready to defend in this type of match, even when we are a man down.”