Gasperini: ‘De Ketelaere has grown exponentially’

Gian Piero Gasperini warns Atalanta ‘have margin for additional enchancment’ after beating Lazio 3-1 and Charles De Ketelaere’s confidence has ‘grown exponentially.’

La Dea continued their outstanding run of outcomes, significantly on the Gewiss Stadium, by sweeping Lazio apart 3-1.

Mario Pasalic opened the scoring with a chest and volley, earlier than the De Ketelaere brace together with a penalty.

Ciro Motionless earned and transformed a spot-kick to get Lazio on the scoresheet.

“We’re going via a great interval of kind and have improved an amazing deal, however we nonetheless have margin for additional enchancment and there are issues we have to fine-tune,” Gasperini informed DAZN.

“Having crushed a robust aspect like Lazio with this model offers us enthusiasm and we expect that we’re heading in the right direction.

“Undoubtedly, should you get outcomes like this, you possibly can problem for the highest spots within the desk. We went shut within the first half of the season, have now began robust and because of this win have additionally received a greater head-to-head report with Lazio.”

Atalanta had misplaced 3-2 to Lazio on the Stadio Olimpico earlier this season, so now if these two groups end degree within the desk, La Dea could have the higher hand.

It’s not simply in Serie A the place they’re impressing, as Atalanta are additionally within the Coppa Italia semi-final and the Europa League Spherical of 16.

“We struggled within the first half of the season in opposition to groups with a excessive press, as we risked dropping the ball for harmful counter-attacks. We’re working laborious on taking part in out from the again, as a result of the choice is a protracted ball and we don’t need that.”

De Ketelaere scored the primary Serie A brace of his profession and appears a totally totally different participant to the one who struggled at Milan.

“Plenty of that’s all the way down to De Ketelaere, he’s the one placing in these performances,” argued the coach.

“He discovered an setting the place he feels snug and in the previous couple of months has gained confidence exponentially. You simply have to take a look at the best way he transformed that penalty, how he tries strikes that aren’t easy. He loses the ball not often and is beginning to win it again too.

“We at all times knew De Ketelaere was a high quality participant, however he’s now taking part in with confidence and changing into an actual reference level for the squad. I can consider no higher praise for him.”

Maurizio Sarri stated that if Atalanta play like this, they’re the favourites for the Champions League place. Does Gasperini really feel the identical?

“We aren’t refusing or hiding something, however there are various groups and never many factors between them. There are three out in entrance on the high, then everybody else is within the combine, together with us.”

#SerieA | @Atalanta_BC, #Gasperini: “De Ketelaere? In campo ci va lui e fa delle grandi prestazioni. Sta bene e in questi ultimi mesi ha preso fiducia” 👉 https://t.co/ogO8EcfT74 pic.twitter.com/YfWGqEtihK

— Gianluca Di Marzio (@DiMarzio) February 4, 2024