Atalanta Made It To The Last 16 Despite Being Pinned Down By Liverpool And Ajax, Gasperini: Extraordinary!

Atalanta Manager Gian Piero Gasperini (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini considers his team's breakout to the last 16 of the Champions League to be more extraordinary than last season's score, because they have to go through a tight group inhabited by Liverpool and Ajax.

Atalanta secured their move to the last 16, accompanying group winners Liverpool, thanks to a 1-0 victory over Ajax on a visit to the Johan Cruijff Arena, Amsterdam, Netherlands, for the final Group D match on Wednesday local time (Thursday WIB).

"Reaching the last 16 again is an extraordinary achievement. This season is even more so than last year, because Liverpool and Ajax are two big teams," Gasperini said after the match quoted by Antara from the official UEFA website.

Atalanta arrives at the Johan Cruijff Arena with a one point lead over Ajax, meaning they only need a draw to secure a place in the last 16.

A goal at the end of the match by Luis Muriel succeeded in making Atalanta pass through Ajax, a team which incidentally has a tradition of winning in Europe's highest caste as well as one of the few clubs to have the badge of honor emblem.

According to Gasperini, this victory was inseparable from the discipline of his foster children in maintaining the defense line. The defensive strategy by placing five players successfully reduced Ajax's attacks.

🎙️ @ Luisfmuriel09: "Ci siamo meritati la qualificazione" 🕺🏽 "We deserved the qualification" 🎥 https://t.co/eIPMBxvIwk #AjaxAtalanta #UCL #GoAtalantaGo ⚫️🔵 pic.twitter.com/ktdvFe6nd9

- Atalanta BC (@Atalanta_BC) December 9, 2020

They mostly waited until Ajax players made mistakes. The goals scored by Muriel were inseparable from the mistakes of Ajax and the ingenuity of the Atalanta midfielder when intercepting the ball.

"We did very well tonight, defending expertly against the attacking team. Defensively we did very well. Then we tried our best during the break, and got the goal in the final minutes," he said.

Atalanta's accurate strategy was recognized by Ajax midfielder Davy Klaanssen. He said Atalanta's victory was the result of the discipline of the defenders in reducing the attacks of his friends.

📣 POSSIAMO GRIDARLO ANCORA: SIAMO AGLI OTTAVIIIIIIIIII !!! 🖤💙 WE CAN SHOUT IT AGAIN: LAST SIXTEEEEEEEENNNN !!! @ Plus500 #AjaxAtalanta #UCL #GoAtalantaGo ⚫️🔵 pic.twitter.com/1k7DF18EB3

- Atalanta BC (@Atalanta_BC) December 9, 2020

In addition, losing one player is a turning point for Ajax which is increasingly difficult to penetrate the Atalanta defense. The advantage of this number of players can be used by the visitors to pocket the victory.

"Usually they are a pressing team, but you saw today that they came to play discipline and play on the counter-attack. Then we played with ten men and still had to press. But then they got a chance," he said.