Atalanta coach Gasperini: We were fantastic after Liverpool penalty

Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini is full of pride reaching the Europa League semifinals.

A 1-0 defeat at home to Liverpool saw La Dea win their quarterfinal 3-1 on aggregate.

Gasperini said: “We are very happy to have given our contribution over the years. We eliminated a great coach and a great team, we had heart and a wonderful crowd helping us tonight. We are very happy and from tomorrow will think about the next games.

“I thought that we gave away a good dozen of these naïve penalties this season, it felt like another off day. Instead, we built a fantastic performance after that penalty and should've scored goals, as there were the spaces to score them tonight as well, just like in Liverpool.

“It was a bit of a frenetic match. There are different ways to defend, either sitting back or going to press them high, and we chose the latter option. We were physically strong and kept up the tempo."

He added, “Without doubt we care about winning something, but the trophy also is seeing the unity of these lads. At half-time, I asked them if they wanted to drop back a bit and defend deeper if they were feeling the pressure, but they said absolutely not! That is a trophy for me, because they think like me, they are in positions and approaches that they enjoy.

“When a club like ours manages to get results well beyond the history of Atalanta and Bergamo, I have to consider this exceptional for my career, for Bergamo and for everyone."