Atalanta are the first team to take to the pitch on Matchday 33, as they will host Brescia at the Gewiss Stadium on Tuesday 14th July. And on the eve of the match the interview is, as always, with coach Gian Piero Gasperini who not only talked about the match against the Rondinelle, but also about the match at the Allianz Stadium.

Here is the full interview with Atalanta coach:

Juve-Atalanta 2-2: you still sorry about that or you’re over it?

“I’ve never felt regret, because the performance was so good that you can’t feel any regret. Of course we’re sorry for the goal we conceded when we thought we had won the game, but then all the rest we did was good, which was widely and remarkably acknowledged. This obviously pleased us, above all, playing like this on the Juventus pitch. Now we must be good at playing the rest of the league, as we’re really close to our objective”.

What did you like most about Juventus-Atalanta?

“About Juventus-Atalanta, from our side, I really liked the personality, confidence, tranquility and technique we played with. We carried out our tasks, our style of play and we managed to do so against a great team, who are winning the league and can be a protagonist in Europe”.

The Champions League draw on Friday, the result was Paris Saint Germain, Juventus on Saturday. In short, you had the spotlight on you: what was the best compliment you got?

“I got too many. It’s always related to the team, to the line-up, to the way this squad play who find so much support, who are widely appreciated. This is a goal for us. It’s a reason for great satisfaction. It always goes with the result, as I’m one of those who keep saying that the result is fundamental. We must keep going as we are. We must also be able to adapt to other types of matches, such as tomorrow evening’s game. It’s a derby anyway, which has its unknowns. We move from a match against a team who have some objectives like winning the title and the Champions League, to one who want to reach safety”.

Tension, determination, concentration always to the maximum? You can’t drop anything.

“It’s a totally different match, with other difficulties and other unknowns, which we must be ready to face. The opponent’s motivations can be very high. With three points we mathematically cut off Napoli. And then – You’re sure about qualifying for Europe – We’re sure about securing a spot in Europe. This, with 5 games to go, would be a great result. This is the first achievement. We, for sure, don’t want to stop there. We want to do our best from here to the end of the league, which is the best way to prepare for the Champions League”.

Besides the historical rivalry, you said it: it’s a derby. The two cities most affected by the virus will meet.

This, in the midst of so much sporting rivalry, there was a rapprochement between the two cities, the two populations, affected in the same way. This can be highly positive, while maintaining the football and sporting rivalry, the identification of two territories which are so close is a very good and positive thing”.

What about the line-up? Have you already decided it? You gave space to Iličić in the last games. How is Iličić doing?

“He’s improving. Last game was difficult, but he held out well. I think we’re recovering him. When he too is at his best, we will have alternatives with extra strength. I’m also happy with his approach, he wants to return to be the protagonist. Hopefully he can be it very quickly”.

So, have you already decided the line-up?

“About the line-up, playing so frequently, today’s the first training we’re doing. We have to verify some recoveries, there has been some problems, some pain. We’ll verify it today. Even 24 hours are many. From here to tomorrow, we will try to line up the best possible starting XI on the pitch, because it’s an important game, just like the previous ones”.

You said it before: with one win, we secure a spot in Europe, with 5 games to go and the fourth year in a row.

“This is an extraordinary result, if I think of four years ago when I arrived. We want to take it and possibly improve it. We have the points record, the record for goals, wins, there are so many things to hold on to in order to do well in these last six games, just like we did in the last 7 matches after the lockdown”.