Gian Piero Gasperini, the head coach of Atalanta, anticipates a challenging showdown with Serie A league leaders Inter this Saturday. In a pre-match press conference, he assessed his team’s prospects against the Nerazzurri and provided an update on Giorgio Scalvini, a defender linked with Inter. While Gasperini acknowledges Atalanta’s recent struggles against Inter, he draws confidence from their closely contested encounters in the previous season.
Gasperini emphasized the unpredictability of football and the importance of taking each match as it comes, especially as it’s only the eleventh matchday of the season. He acknowledged the formidable strength of Inter in terms of results and performances, both in the league and the cup. Despite their balanced performances last season, Atalanta consistently ended up on the losing side, often conceding early goals and then making comebacks.
The coach recognized Inter’s growth, attributed in part to their success in the Champions League and the acquisition of new, influential players. However, Gasperini highlighted that Atalanta is also in good form, setting the stage for a challenging match against the league leaders.
High Expectations and Maximum Effort
Gasperini emphasized that his team always plays to their fullest potential, regardless of the expectations before a match. The unpredictable nature of football means that the outcome is uncertain until the final whistle. While there may be uncertainties going into the game, the goal for Atalanta is to give their all and strive for a positive result against the formidable Inter.
Scalvini’s Fitness and Minor Health Concerns
Giorgio Scalvini’s fitness has been a subject of interest, especially with the link to Inter. Gasperini provided an update, stating that Scalvini has made significant progress, but his readiness to start against Inter remains to be evaluated. The coach estimated that Scalvini is currently at around 60% fitness. Additionally, Gasperini mentioned minor health issues among some of the players, such as sore throats and seasonal illnesses.
As Atalanta prepares to face Inter at the Gewiss Stadium with kickoff scheduled for 17:00 GMT on Saturday, the team is bracing for a challenging match against the league leaders, with Gasperini’s emphasis on giving their all and approaching the game with a determined mindset.
