Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini heaped praise on Milan in the build-up to their mouth-watering Serie A showdown on Sunday. The experienced strategist expects a ‘proactive’ approach from ‘growing Rossoneri.’
Milan have enjoyed an impressive start to this Serie A campaign, winning all but one of their six league fixtures, barring a 1-1 away draw with Juventus. Despite enduring contrasting fortunes in the Champions League, where they’ve lost both opening group stage matches, Stefano Pioli’s men have developed into a force to be reckoned with in domestic football.
Meanwhile, though they’ve gone unbeaten in five of their inaugural six Serie A games this season, Atalanta have not been as convincing as they had in recent seasons. Indeed, their indifferent form in Bergamo has seen them pick up a win, a draw, and a loss from their first three Serie A home matches this season.
Additionally, Atalanta succumbed to a 2-0 defeat in their most recent top-flight meeting with Milan at the Gewiss Stadium and will have revenge on their minds when they lock horns on Sunday night. Well aware of the force he is going up against, Gasperini expects the Rossoneri to put on another strong performance as they bid to win back-to-back Serie A matches in Bergamo for the first time since 2013.
“I expect a very proactive opponent, it’s clear that the defeat of the other night is a bad result for their UCL tour, but everything can change. Milan have grown a lot, they are reaping results that are the result of their performances. We have a great determination to face this challenge,” he said in the pre-match conference, as relayed by MilanNews.
“Milan have grown because they have so many young players, Pioli has certainly done a great job if we think about a year and a half ago. It’s a team that has grown above all with the inclusion of many players, especially in attack. This allows Pioli to have alternatives despite Ibra’s absence.“