Gasperini Exercises Caution Regarding Atalanta’s Title Aspirations Following Dominant Win Over Empoli

Manager Gian Piero Gasperini has adopted a cautious stance regarding Atalanta’s prospects for the Serie A title, despite their dominant 5-0 victory over Empoli on Sunday. He cautioned that the team has a slim margin for error moving forward.

Currently sitting in third place, Atalanta’s impressive win closed the gap to league leaders Inter Milan to just three points.

They are also trailing second-placed Napoli by two points, sharing the league’s highest goal tally this season with Inter, both teams having netted 59 goals thus far.

With 12 matches left in the season, Gasperini is acutely aware that fortunes can change rapidly, particularly as the team has struggled to find the form that saw them achieve 11 consecutive wins between early October and December.

Since that unbeaten run came to an end with a 1-1 draw against Lazio on 28 December, Atalanta have only managed to secure three wins out of their last nine games.

“At this stage, it’s essential to see how things play out on a weekly basis. We can’t afford any mistakes, especially since we are just a touch behind,” Gasperini expressed to the media.

“We take pride in our position and the progress we’ve made until now. While interpretations may vary, I personally feel satisfied.”

When questioned about whether the team’s early exit from the Champions League, following a 5-2 aggregate defeat to Club Brugge, might serve as a silver lining in their quest for the league title, Gasperini responded.

“We certainly hope so, although we do lament not being in the Champions League. However, having a few weeks off can be beneficial, allowing some players to recuperate and gain energy for a strong finish,” he stated.

On Saturday, Gasperini noted that he might contemplate extending his contract until 2026 but refrained from elaborating on the matter.

“I won’t delve into this topic anymore; I’ve already expressed my thoughts quite clearly. We have 12 matches to focus on, and everything else, be it past or future, holds no significance,” he concluded.