Atalanta`s coach, Gian Piero Gasperini, spoke at the CONI Hall of Fame ceremony in Rome, where he received the Bearzot Award. During his speech, he showed support for Thiago Motta, the former Juventus coach and Gasperini`s former player at Genoa. “I am very fond of Thiago Motta, who is going through a difficult time. The media often swings from excessive praise to harsh criticism, something we all need to improve on. Things evolve, and our sport is no exception. Innovations like VAR have emerged, but they feel distant from the players` and perhaps the public`s understanding. Compared to the standards we`ve had for years, things have become harder to grasp. I hope this is a transitional phase that leads to improvements for the spectacle and the game of football, and especially makes it understandable for the fans.”
Regarding Atalanta`s current situation, Gasperini commented: “The recent match against Inter made the race for our goals more challenging, but we must never take away dreams from the fans. We should always strive for the impossible, and sometimes, we might even achieve it. Currently, my home is in Bergamo (laughs, editor`s note). We coaches live in the present, and right now, there`s still a long season ahead. I`ve been in this situation for nine years, and staying with the same club for so long is rare in football. For me, it has been extraordinary so far, with all elements aligning, from the president to the city and the players. There`s time for statues; there are many more beautiful goals to achieve. Life is about journeys, with a beginning and an end, and the journey in between is the most beautiful part. The victory in Dublin was wonderful, but the entire journey has been marvelous.”