Gasperini urges constant vigilance as Atalanta face Club Brugge in Champions League

Atalanta will travel to Club Brugge in the first leg of the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League knockout play-off, and Gasperini said his team must always be vigilant during the game because the opponent can cause trouble for the team at any time.

After 4 wins, 3 draws and 1 loss in 8 rounds of Champions League matches, Atalanta finally finished 9th and failed to directly advance to the round of 16. But in the earlier Serie A, Atalanta defeated Verona 5-0 away with 4 goals contributed by Retegui and a goal by Ederson, and successfully built momentum for the Champions League match against Bruges.

Atalanta coach Gasperini said in an interview, “We have seen Bruges’ performance in the Champions League. They drew with Juventus at home and caused a lot of trouble for AC Milan at the San Siro Stadium. After the league stage, we returned to the traditional Champions League knockout system. Bruges’ style is different from the opponents we have encountered recently, and their performance against Manchester City was also quite strong.”

"Like all the teams in the Champions League, they are used to competing for the title in their respective leagues. They attack aggressively, with great tempo and intensity. We have to be extra careful because just when you think you have the game under control, the opponent can strike you deadly. So we have to be alert all the time."

In addition, Gasperini also said, "It is undeniable that we performed very well in the league stage and finally ranked ninth, but being able to participate in the Champions League is already an extremely exciting thing for us."

"I have always believed that this tournament helps improve the team's status in the league, but the problem is that it also increases the risk of players getting injured. This is not just a dilemma we face, but a challenge that all participating teams will face. Apart from that, it is indeed a very valuable experience."