"The turnover is necessary this time, because with the eighth of the Coppa Italia we are starting a tour de force of four games in ten days".
Atalanta's coach, Gian Piero Gasperini, on the eve of the eighth home match against Cagliari, announces an exclusive change in Atalanta's starting lineup to the Raisports: "Sportiello returns to goal, generally we will see other players less used, including Maehle and Miranchuk - explains the Nerazzurri coach -. The Coppa Italia is a competition that was initially taken lightly by many, but when it goes on they all keep us. Even us, who play at home, even if the home factor without an audience affects much less. "
A nod to the team after Gomez, the separated at home, now replaced behind the strikers by Pessina: "We have a good balance, but we did well even before. There was a hitch of six days in which we scored 1 point per game while now we do 2 and a half. We managed to find different balances ".
Gasperini analyzes the excellent moment of his team, 17 points out of 21 available in the last 7 occasions: "We are doing well and we are in good condition, both those who play and those who enter are making a great contribution. But in football you have to repeat yourself over and over again."
A look at the opponent: "Cagliari remains a good team with very good players, but they are going through a difficult moment. The 5-2 in the league in the direct match? We need to see if the formations of both teams will be so different: that is It was a much more balanced match than the result suggests. "
Just on January 14th two years ago, then with reversed fields, Atalanta had started the ride up to the final lost against Lazio with the Sardinians: "We try in a very compressed competition. Going forward means playing another five weeks with Lazio. 'midweek always, with the possible Fourth and then immediately the Semifinals, all within February 10. An extraordinary situation to which we will adapt in the best possible way ".