Journalists sent their questions to the Atalanta coach ahead of the Atalanta-Inter match.
Here are Gian Piero Gasperini’s answers.
We start off with a question that many journalists, Elefante from La Gazzetta dello Sport, Nebuloni from Sky Sport and Riscassi from Rai Sport, ask you. You talked about changes. Do you confirm the thoughts you had after the game against Liverpool? Waiting for shape and intensity to improve, what should be fixed against Inter?
“These are not changes, yet they’re adjustments to the situation. The situation right now is that we’re conceding a few too many goals, so, we have to be more focused and maybe provide more protection for the defence, which doesn’t mean we have to turn the squad upside-down, but we have to make adjustments that can better protect us at this time, as we also have emergencies”.
A question from Magri, Corriere della Sera: do you expect Inter to be those seen in the last month or do you expect them to react?
“I think Inter are an excellent team regardless. Like everyone else, they’re having a bit of an up-and-down performance, some performances were really good, others were less good. But they’re a great team anyway”.
A question from Gennari, Tuttosport: could even less used players like Ruggeri, Šutalo and Pessina play in this match?
“We’ll see. We still have some absences. Apart from Gosens and de Roon, also Palomino will be absent, so, it could happen, if not for the whole match, during the game”.
A question from Nebuloni, Sky: after Tuesday’s setback, what does a coach work on?
“We live in the present, at some point you have to look ahead, the match against Inter is the present. The present is that we’re in a good position on the table. Although we lost badly in the Champions League, everything is still to play for. This is what we have to face and we always have to look ahead”.
A question from Sorrentino, Terzo Tempo Magazine, and Vavassori, Eco di Bergamo: How is Miranchuk’s fitness going?
“Miranchuk has physically recovered, he’s doing well and he’s training. Right now our most important need is in the midfield and the defence, on the wing-backs. Hence it’s not the priority at the moment”.
A question from Elefante, Gazzetta dello Sport: when Conte played for Juventus, injured players – and he happened to be injured – played with the Primavera before returning to the squad. When you coached Juventus’ Primavera, did it ever happen to you to have him in your team? If so, what do you remember? Tell us an anecdote.
“He was with us a few times, when he had to recover from an injury. He’s always been a great professional and a great example for the lads. He was always so passionate even when he played for the Primavera and he was a reference point for everyone. It’s always been a pleasure for me to have to do with him”.
What do you expect to see tomorrow in the Atalanta-Inter match? Atalanta side, obviously.
“It’s going to be a demanding match for both teams, I think. It’ll be a difficult match, but it comes at the right time. After this, there will be the international break which will round off this phase, which was made of highs and lows, as we said before. It’s a game, at this moment, which can tell us about our condition”.
