"As a coach, he has all my respect" - Atalanta manager hails Mikel Arteta ahead of UCL clash against Arsenal
Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini has hailed Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta ahead of their UEFA Champions League clash tomorrow (September 19). The side from north Italy hosts the English Premier League giants in a game that promises excitement as two progressive managers go head to head.
The Gunners have been one of the best teams in England in recent seasons, coming closest to dethroning Gulf State-funded Manchester City in the previous two seasons. Gasperini hailed Mikel Arteta and Arsenal played, saying (via Football Italia):
“They are a team I really like, they are very compact, organized, they are a good example of how to play football. The results speak for themselves, even if they weren’t able to win the Premier League. I don’t know him personally, but as a coach, he has all my respect. It’s a beautiful team to watch."
The 66-year-old manager went on to highlight his hopes for the European campaign, saying:
“The goal is to stay in. It will be difficult to get into the top eight. To stay between ninth and 24th, we have to pick up points in every game. We start with a really tough test, but it is an opportunity to measure ourselves. We’ve been playing in Europe for several years now, it’s clear that continuity has allowed us to continue growing."
“We’ve done well a few times in the Champions League, even in difficult groups. We wasted the Europa League quarter-final against RB Leipzig three years ago. Last year, we had a fantastic run, now we’re competing in a competition where there are several teams at a higher level.”
Atalanta are the current holders of the UEFA Europa League following their victory over Bayer Leverkusen in the final last season.
Gian Piero Gasperini's Atalanta vs Mikel Arteta's Arsenal preview
Mikel Arteta's Arsenal and Gian Piero Gasperini's Atalanta sides face off in their UCL opening game in Bergamo tomorrow, with both sides keen to kick off their European campaigns on a strong note.
The Gunners head into the game with a better run of form, with the English giants currently unbeaten in their last five games, only dropping points once. The Serie A outfit has a more spotty run of form, with three losses in their last five to Inter Milan, Torino, and Real Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup.
French referee Clement Turpin will oversee the game at the Gewiss Stadium.