Gasperini's Challenge: Atalanta's Strategy Against Liverpool in the Europa League Quarter-Finals

"We've caught the favorites: all that's left is to play our best." Gian Piero Gasperini, on the eve of the Europa League quarter-final at Anfield with Liverpool, does not give up: "We are up against a very strong team, the best example of football. But matches need to be played: it's the field that decides who is the favorite, even Liverpool must maintain high attention," emphasizes the Atalanta coach. The only announced lineup choice is the confirmation in goal from the round of 16 against Sporting: "Musso plays, he has brought us here along with the growth of Carnesecchi," says the black and blue coach. It's inevitable to think back to the two clashes in the Champions League group stage in November 2020, when the home advantage was overturned, 5-0 for the Reds in Bergamo and 2-0 on the return: "Of ours, maybe three or four have remained, they have renewed by inserting young players: Klopp is exceptional in this," continues Gasperini. Unlike the other time, there is the public, something that for a year at that time had not been possible due to Covid. It would have been a great regret to play again in an empty stadium." Gasperini returns to the recent defeats in the Coppa Italia semi-final with Fiorentina and in the league at Cagliari: "There are no priorities on the three fronts, we do not make choices. We have a Europa League quarter-final to play and we must do it to the best." Finally, on his colleague: "Klopp has renewed the team while keeping great champions, he has set a mentality. A great reference for the results achieved and an important reference for me."