Gian Piero Gasperini said Atalanta never lack 'competitiveness', is happy to see Josip Ilicic 'recovering' and praised Matteo Pessina as a ‘very useful player’.
La Dea returned with a big win against Sassuolo and started 2021 in style, something that of course pleased Gasperini.
But ahead of the match against Parma, he stressed La Dea have to be ‘careful’ against Fabio Liverani’s men.
Gian Piero Gasperini said Atalanta never lack 'competitiveness', is happy to see Josip Ilicic 'recovering' and praised Matteo Pessina as a ‘very useful player’.
La Dea returned with a big win against Sassuolo and started 2021 in style, something that of course pleased Gasperini.
But ahead of the match against Parma, he stressed La Dea have to be ‘careful’ against Fabio Liverani’s men.
“They are all particular games, with different levels of difficulty,” he said. “The matches are all balanced, then everything can become easy during the match, but initially it’s not always like this.
“We have to be careful with Parma, when teams are in these conditions, they give something extra. We want to continue this streak, we need to put our best features on the pitch.
“There’s not much time, it’s the first training session we do after Sunday. I’m certain about tomorrow’s training but I also want to evaluate today’s session, if there are some physical problems or not.
“I don’t really want to rotate, with five changes, there’s no need for big changes. It shouldn’t be done to please the squads, changing five players is rotating in itself, the rest risks creating false expectations.”
Gasperini seemed happy to see Ilicic having returned to his old self against Sassuolo, when the striker created a host of chances in the 5-1 win.
“Ilicic could shoot a little better,” he joked at a press conference. “I saw him kick like a while ago, the important thing is that the lad is recovering.
“In the first half against Sassuolo, he created a lot, but he could have finished better. He is always present, catches the ball and touches many of them.
“When he makes a mistake, he doesn’t get discouraged but tries to do better.”
Pessina has been a revelation in the Atalanta line-up and Gasperini praised the attacking midfielder.
“He’s a very useful player, I don’t know if he will always play in that position or in midfield,” Gasperini said.
“We are a bit tight in the middle, we hope to recover [Mario] Pasalic as soon as possible. Pessina is adapting well, he helps the team a lot.
“I think the team should be evaluated as a whole, I think of the defenders or the midfielders, [Remo] Freuler and [Marten] de Roon for example. They are always there, together with the defence there’s a strong mentality.
“The forwards then score goals and stand out, but they take turns. What’s never missing is the hard and consistent core that guarantees the team’s competitiveness.”
Gasperini said Rafael Toloi has recovered and welcomed back in the absence of Cristian Romero, who is suspended for Wednesday’s match.
“He had a good training session yesterday too, he has recovered,” Gasperini said. “Pasalic and Romero, who is disqualified, are out.”
Parma arrive after three straight defeats and are one point above relegation, but Gasperini said the championship is still ‘unpredictable’.
“The table is tight, the teams are grouped and there are no teams detached. When they are all in there, it can be a positive or negative period for one or the other.
“It’s an unpredictable championship.”