Atalanta: Zaniolo is back, so he is an asset for Gasperini

Marina Belotti 37 minutes ago

From match to match, the Atalanta squad available to coach Gasperini grows ever larger. Numerically, while waiting for Kolasinac’s tests, only Scamacca remains among the injured, and qualitatively, with Samardzic, Brescianini and Zaniolo who are improving from match to match. Above all, the former Roma striker, who came unstuck in front of goal after several near-miss goals in spurts (from a minimum of 11 to a maximum of 30 minutes), now wants to be decisive with continuity. With Gasperini, who has already made Scamacca, De Ketelaere and Retegui blossom, he has the chance to return to the Nerazzurri team first and then to the Azzurri team. THE KEY – As with the Belgian CDK, the secret lies in patience and perseverance. Of the coach from Grugliasco and the twenty-five year old, who immediately made himself available in training, and who has steadily recovered from his many injuries. The fracture of the metatarsal, the tendonitis, the adductor problem. His motivation was at full blast just a few weeks before the European Super Cup, but his physique didn’t follow suit. However, now he has the chance to actually face Real Madrid (on 10 December) and to do so as a protagonist. Whether in the middle, to give Retegui breathing space like on Wednesday in the Champions League, in the attacking midfield or as an attacking winger. Because Gasp knows that he can count on his flexibility, which is fundamental for him, as he creates and wants “offensive jokers” who can adapt to multiple roles. Like Koopmeiners, like Pasalic, like De Ketelaere himself. Zaniolo will follow in the wake. RESOURCE OF 10- However, he, who found his first center in ten appearances with the Nerazzurri shirt, has that number right there on his back. The 10th. He chose it on purpose, waiting for Touré to leave for Stuttgart, where he would beat him a few months later in the scorers’ tally in the Champions League match. That number 10 not only requires greater continuity in terms of assists and goals, but a leadership spirit. Zaniolo is called upon to be the driving force, even emotionally, of the Nerazzurri trident, which has never been as ambitious as this year. A role that he can play both as a starter and in the second half. In fact, Gasperini is looking for someone capable of breaking up matches, like Muriel and Ilicic in the now distant past, like Wednesday in Zaniolo’s new present. His redemption will come from this ability to take control of the team and unlock difficult matches.