Atalanta Can Meet Barcelona In The Quarter-finals Of The Europa League, Gasperini: There Are Other Teams That Are Also Very Tough

Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini. (Photo: Instagram.com/@atalantabc)

JAKARTA - Atalanta coach, Gian Piero Gasperini, was relieved that his team had qualified for the quarter-finals of the Europa Cup. However, the coach was reluctant to brag about the opponents he would face before the results of the draw were announced.

Atalanta managed to secure a ticket to the Europa League quarter-finals after a 1-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen in the second leg of the round of 16. In the match at the Bay Arena Stadium on Friday, March 18, Indonesian Western Time (WIB), Jeremie Boga scored one of Atalanta's decisive goals in injury time, namely the 91st minute.

Gasperini did not deny that a meeting with a German representative club was difficult. He was satisfied to finally get through the challenge and reach the quarter-finals.

"We struggled a bit in the second half, but overall we deserved to go through," said Gian Piero Gasperini as quoted by Sky Sport Italia.

"I congratulate Gerardo Seoane, because he got the best out of a squad with a lot of young talent. We are happy to qualify, but it was very difficult," he continued.

In the quarter-finals, Atalanta has the opportunity to meet tough opponents. One of them is Barcelona who successfully eliminated Galatasaray in the round of 16.

Related to this, Gasperini is reluctant to think further. According to him, all potential opponents in the quarter-finals of the Europa League are equally tough.

"There are other teams who are also very tough. I never try to choose who I want before the draw is determined," he said.