Atalanta head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has given an update on Charles De Ketelaere, while he also praised AC Milan ahead of tomorrow’s Coppa Italia quarter-final match.
Milan well welcome Atalanta to San Siro tomorrow night with both teams fighting for a spot in the semi-finals of the cup. While before it looked likely that Inter might await at that stage, they were knocked out by Bologna before the new year.
The other side of the bracket features the likes of Juventus, Roma and Lazio (the latter two play each other before tomorrow’s game at the Meazza) so lifting the trophy will of course still be difficult, but the feeling is that the path is perhaps a tad less daunting than it could have been.
Gasperini spoke at a pre-match press conference on the eve of the short trip to face Lombardy neighbours Milan, and his comments were relayed by TMW.
A semi-final spot is up for grabs…
“Football is perhaps the only sport where there is also a draw, but tomorrow someone will have to come out on top, there is no chance. Taking the Scudetto and the European cups as unlikely, the Coppa Italia is the most attainable, tomorrow we go there to play this competition.”
How are De Ketelaere and Kolasinac?
“Better than we thought, but we’ll know tomorrow morning. If they are called up they will be available.”
How much will motivations matter?
“Milan are a strong team at home, they are a team of absolute value. They seem to have overcome even the moment of difficulty, the attention goes solely and exclusively to the match.”
What will the choice be regarding your forwards?
“It’s certainly the moment, the condition, but also based on the opponent. The match can also go on in extra time, but in this case you think about the match over 90 minutes.”
Is Hien ready to play from the first minute?
“Athletically he is fine, he always played with Verona. They played in a very similar role, it is clear that he needs a bit of running in.”
Which Milan player do you fear the most?
“You can list all the players, Milan is a team of great value.”
What incentive is it for you to have to meet Fiorentina or Bologna in a possible semi-final?
“We play at San Siro against Milan, then possibly we’ll think about it tomorrow. Tomorrow will be a very important clash.”
How is Muriel?
“It could be anything, tomorrow there could be a match that could go beyond 90 minutes. De Ketelaere and Miranchuk are doing well, but the hierarchies alternate. Everyone plays, we remember the league match in which the entry of Miranchuk and Muriel decided the match.
“This is modern football with five substitutions, everyone uses the attacking players in the final stages, it has now become normal. Now we play with 16.”
