Atalanta, Gian Piero Gasperini goads Gianluca Scamacca

Gian Piero Gasperini bluntly on Gianluca Scamacca

Embroiled in a tour de force that is very difficult and at the moment decisively unprofitable (one draw and two defeats in the last three matches), Atalanta must find itself again to avoid bitter surprises in the Europe League;round of 16 of the Europa League against Sporting, an opponent with international tradition that the Orobici have already faced in the group stage (2-1 win in Portugal, 1-1 draw in Bergamo).

Scamacca, Gasperini: "Strikers must be dynamic"

Speaking to the microphones of 'Sky Sport', coach Gian Piero Gasperini stressed the need for the Nerazzurri to regain the goals of Gianluca Scamacca, who scored precisely against the Portuguese in the match in Bergamo last Nov. 30, but has scored only one other goal since then, against Udinese in the league on Jan. 27.

Asked about how much the Roman is struggling to adapt to the Atalanta game system, Gasperini replied thus: "This year we see very frequent role changes, è it is obvious that to avoid numerical inferiorities the forwards must be dynamic. Clearly, we cannot expect from Scamacca the kilometers of Ederson or De Roon, but he and all strikers must have a wide range of action".

"I am convinced he can make strides forward"

"He is trying, I would like him not to have all this pressure,” added the Grugliasco coach. “We should not expect him to do extraordinary things and have to be a great champion, and then maybe get discouraged at the first pass. I am convinced that he can make great strides forward".

Arriving from West Ham United last summer after a rather anonymous season despite the Conference League in his trophy cabinet, Scamacca has played (as of March 5, 2024) 26 matches this season between league and cups, scoring 7 times. He has not played a full match, però since Nov. 4, 1-2 against Inter in the league, and his employment, from February onward, has only once exceeded 30' of play.