Atalanta Coach Gian Piero Gasperini expressed mixed feelings about his team’s 1-1 draw against Celtic in the Champions League on Tuesday. While his side dominated the match, he lamented their lack of quality and the poor condition of certain players.
“It was a match that was directed well right from the start,” Gasperini said in a post-match interview. “Having scored a goal at the start helped us, which didn’t happen tonight. Going forward, it’s clear that you’re lacking energy. They really defended themselves a lot.”
Gasperini praised his team’s performance, stating, “In the Champions League you rarely see matches where you dominate like today. Above all, you don’t often see a team fighting to win in the league that defends itself so much. At the moment the only thing that matters is the fact that we haven’t scored goals, neither with Arsenal or today.”
However, he also acknowledged the need for his players to improve their condition. “It’s a problem for both the Champions League and the championship,” he said. “We need everyone to be well. When De Ketelaere, Retegui, and Lookman are well up front, we make the leap in quality. In my opinion, Zaniolo needs to improve further in condition, and Samardzic, who I really don’t see as a striker.”
Gasperini’s comments highlighted the difficulty of scoring goals, not just for Atalanta, but for many teams in the Champions League. His words also shed light on the importance of having players in top form, as a well-oiled attack can make all the difference in a competitive tournament.
