Ruben Amorim agreement should warn Liverpool about underrated Gasperini and Atalanta

There are experiences Liverpool have reached a verbal settlement with Rúben Amorim, however the Reds ought to be careful for underrated Gian Piero Gasperini, who’s unbeaten in 4 Europa League matches towards Sporting CP this time period, writes Lorenzo Bettoni.

Liverpool appear to have picked Jurgen Klopp’s successor as Florian Plettenberg reported on Tuesday that the Reds had reached a verbal settlement with Sporting CP boss Ruben Amorim. A number of candidates, together with Xabi Alonso and Roberto De Zerbi, had been linked with changing Klopp, however the Portuguese coach seems to be the chosen one at Anfield.

His Sporting facet are 4 factors away from second-placed Benfica on the prime of the Portuguese league desk with a recreation in hand however one of many few disappointments for Amorim this season got here towards Atalanta within the Europa League.

La Dea secured one win and one draw within the group part after which eradicated Sporting CP within the Spherical of 16 with a 3-2 combination win which paved the way in which for the quarter-finals towards Liverpool.

The Reds usually are not solely favourites towards La Dea however stay the group to beat within the Europa League this season. Even Milan and Roma, on paper, usually are not as sturdy or well-equipped as Liverpool, however this doesn’t imply the Premier League giants have already lifted the cup and even eradicated Atalanta.

La Dea could have misplaced two consecutive matches, towards Fiorentina in Coppa Italia and Cagliari in Serie A, however they continue to be some of the thrilling groups to look at in Europe. Their coach, Gasperini, absolutely is among the many most underrated managers within the Previous Continent.

Gasperini: ‘Atalanta face Liverpool with Cagliari spirit’

Initially, Atalanta are nonetheless concerned in each competitors this season. They are going to play the second leg of the Coppa Italia semifinals at house towards Fiorentina later this month. They’ll meet Liverpool within the Europa League quarter-finals, and so they stay eight factors beneath a top-four placement and 5 beneath Fifth-placed Roma within the Serie A desk with a recreation in hand. It couldn’t get a lot better for a group with the eighth wage invoice in Serie A.

The work Atalanta are doing off the pitch has been glorious. Whatever the gross sales of their prime gamers, the final one was Rasmusn Hojlund to Manchester United for over €75m final summer time, they all the time make appropriate investments to strengthen the group and make sensible use of Academy merchandise. Gamers like Giorgio Scalvini and Matteo Ruggeri have been thriving beneath Gasperini who has achieved spectacular leads to Bergamo and impressed a number of coaches, together with the rising Thiago Motta, with an modern enjoying fashion.

Not many keep in mind that Gasp was one of many first coaches to make use of a three-man formation with one of many three defenders operating ahead or transferring right into a central place to create numerical benefit in the course of the park. A number of coaches round Europe have additionally replicated his aggressive man-to-man protection.

Fabio Caressa, one among Italy’s most well-known soccer journalists, stated final week that Gasperini is likely one of the coaches who “modified soccer”, even when his lack of trophies means he’s not thought of among the many biggest managers.

Gasp’s solely expertise at a prime membership didn’t assist him both. The 66-year-old from Grugliasco was appointed by Inter in 2011 however remained in cost for simply 5 matches, drawing as soon as and shedding 4 occasions. It was absolutely essentially the most disappointing teaching expertise for the Italian tactician who hasn’t gotten the credit score he deserves in his profession additionally because of his flop on the Stadio Meazza.

‘Liverpool could have the identical spirit as Cagliari’ towards Atalanta

Again in 2019, after a Champions League assembly with La Dea, Pep Guardiola in contrast Atalanta and their coach to a “robust” journey to the dentist. Atalanta did lose 5-1 on the Etihad Stadium however held the Premier League giants to a 1-1 attract Bergamo.

Different epic European video games for Atalanta embrace victories towards Everton (3-0 at house and 5-1 away) within the 2017-18 Europa League group stage, qualification for the 2019-20 Champions League quarter-finals after beating Valencia 8-4 on combination within the Spherical of 16, an away win at Ajax the next season and a house 2-2 draw towards Manchester United in 2021. La Dea misplaced 3-2 to the Crimson Devils at Previous Trafford that very same 12 months, however solely after seeing the Premier League facet get better from two objectives down after the break.

Liverpool will certainly pay attention to Atalanta’s power, too, as La Dea gained 2-0 at Anfield within the 2020-21 Champions League group part. Nevertheless, the actual warning for the Reds comes from Gasp’s report towards their potential subsequent coach who couldn’t beat his Atalanta facet in 4 video games this time period.