Atalanta’s Gasperini: “I see talent in players who limit themselves”

Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini shared his thoughts on the team’s success, player development, and future goals in a Christmas Day interview with Serie A’s official channels.

Reflecting on Atalanta’s current top position in Serie A, Gasperini admitted, “It was difficult to predict, especially given the challenging month of August with some defeats. Thinking about a winning streak and reaching the top of the table was not easily foreseeable.”

The Europa League victory last season was a significant moment for the club. Gasperini described the experience: “At that moment, I felt great joy, but it wasn’t so different from the joy you feel when you win a particularly difficult match. The ceiling of joy is always the same; what was different was what was around us. I saw a truly happy city that let itself go to an unpredictable enthusiasm. The whole journey of that Europa League was beautiful.”

Gasperini emphasized his philosophy on winning: “It’s a common place where it seems that players have become winners at that moment, I never thought so. I didn’t think so before, and I don’t think so now that we’ve won the Europa League. You’re a winner every day when you overcome your limits and achieve your goals.”

On his ability to develop players, Gasperini said, “My best quality is being able to glimpse the potential of a player who may be more skeptical or self-limiting. I give them more confidence than they have in themselves.”

Speaking about specific players, Gasperini praised Charles De Ketelaere: “Charles is a very sensitive boy. An intelligent boy who has made himself available and understands. This is an important thing. When you talk to him, he recognizes football, recognizes merits, recognizes difficulties, and works to improve himself always and constantly.”

Gasperini had high praise for Ademola Lookman: “He’s a top player. In terms of character, there may be players who have more continuity and are more solid, but that’s normal. He has become a truly extraordinary player, among the best in Europe and in the world. Because he has improved his continuity and in some ways has started to be Atalantino.”

On young talent Lazar Samardzic, Gasperini commented: “A very young player who has shown great talent, but football is not just talent. It’s also made up of many other components. He’s a boy who shows he has a particular talent, it’s visible to everyone. It will be up to him to cultivate it to make it continuous, concrete, and effective.”

Regarding Atalanta’s objectives, Gasperini remained cautious: “We can’t have such long-term goals at this moment, and this is perhaps the beauty of football. This is what then allows you to make journeys like last season where no one imagined where we would land. We can’t know even now. We just try to carry on our flight as long as possible.”

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