Gian Piero Gasperini defends his team choices after Atalanta’s 1-1 draw with Udinese and insists Milan ‘deserve credit’ for topping the Serie A table.
Luis Muriel cancelled out the early opener from Roberto Pereyra in this Week 10 fixture, rescheduled from December due to a waterlogged pitch.
“Conceding a goal after 25 seconds made it more complicated for a game that was already difficult anyway,” the coach told Sky Sport Italia.
Gian Piero Gasperini defends his team choices after Atalanta’s 1-1 draw with Udinese and insists Milan ‘deserve credit’ for topping the Serie A table.
Luis Muriel cancelled out the early opener from Roberto Pereyra in this Week 10 fixture, rescheduled from December due to a waterlogged pitch.
“Conceding a goal after 25 seconds made it more complicated for a game that was already difficult anyway,” the coach told Sky Sport Italia.
“We had to play a really good first half to get it back on track. Considering the way it started, we have to accept this as a good result.
“We made up for an early error and spent almost the entire game in their half. Udinese kept slowing the play down, breaking it up, so there was very little football in the second period and that’s disappointing.”
Gasp was questioned on his squad rotation, as a win here would’ve allowed Atalanta to leap into third place.
“Playing every three days, we have to rotate, and we’ve got talented players with many different characteristics. We’ll start thinking about Milan from this evening, it’s an important match for us, it ends the first half of the season and we are in a position to fight it out with the big clubs.
“We are in the Coppa Italia and the Champions League, we’re up against the Serie A leaders next and it’ll be a way of testing ourselves.
“Milan deserve so much credit for all they’ve achieved in the first half of the season, even through difficulties and injuries. Stefano Pioli and his squad deserve praise.”