Experienced Manager Hails Atalanta’s Tactical Prowess and Competitive Spirit
Bayer Leverkusen head coach, Xabi Alonso, has expressed his admiration for Atalanta and their manager, Gian Piero Gasperini, following their UEFA Europa League clash.
Exceptional Adversaries
Alonso praised Atalanta’s tactical discipline and competitive spirit, describing them as exceptional adversaries who deserved their 2-3 victory in the first leg.
Atalanta is a very good team, with a very clear idea of how they want to play. They are very well-organized, very intense, and very dangerous in attack, Alonso said.
The former Real Madrid and Bayern Munich midfielder highlighted Gasperini’s impact on Atalanta’s success, crediting him for instilling a winning mentality and developing a unique style of play.
A Master Tactician
Gasperini is a master tactician, Alonso added. His teams are always prepared, they are always organized, and they always have a clear game plan.
Alonso noted that Atalanta’s 3-4-3 formation and aggressive pressing tactics had caused Leverkusen problems throughout the match.
We Need to Improve
Despite the loss, Alonso remained positive about Leverkusen’s chances in the second leg. He acknowledged the need for improvement but expressed confidence in his team’s ability to overcome the deficit.
Alonso said:
We need to improve our performance in the second leg. We need to be more aggressive, more clinical, and more organized. But I believe that we have the quality and the spirit to win.
Conclusion
Xabi Alonso’s admiration for Atalanta and Gian Piero Gasperini serves as a testament to the quality and competitiveness of the Italian side. The second leg promises to be a captivating encounter, as Leverkusen looks to overturn the deficit and advance in the Europa League.
Kind regards,
B. McDowell
