Gasperini: "We don’t feel the need to win the Europa League"

The Atalanta coach, Gian PieroGasperini, He stated that his team did not feel the need to win the Europa League and the main goal was to “get through the round” against German Leipzig to reach the semi-finals of the competition.

“The first goal of the season is to get through the round, the other is to stay in the European places in Serie A,” the Italian coach said at the press conference before the Europa League quarter-final against Leipzig.

For the coach of the Bergamasco team, winning the European tournament was an exaggerated goal: “We don’t feel the need to win the‘ Europa League ’, an Italian hasn’t won here since 1999. Being away from Champions places League in the domestic championship we have lost concentration and the mistakes in the defense of Napoli show this. Reaching the semi-finals will be something important “.

As for his rival, Gasperini believes he is “similar” to Bayern Leverkusen, whom they eliminated in the round of 16, “but the way of being on the pitch is different”. “That was a more open game, this one I see with less space,” he added.

‘Dea’ came into the match after losing in the league against Napoli by 1-3. Gasperini is clear that they cannot make mistakes to go through the round: “We cannot afford to be careless like the ones we had in the league against a rival who knows how to defend as well as attack.”

“Within two minutes in 2020, against PSG, we missed the Champions League semi-final against Leipzig. It gives us an idea of ​​the value of the opponent,” he added.

Also, the coach wanted to emphasize that they are the Italian team that has performed best in competitions outside the transalpine borders for some time: “We have been the best Italian team in UEFA competitions in for three years. Only Inter came forward “.