Atalanta's Gasperini glad to end Italy's 25-year Europa League drought
Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini is proud of bringing the Europa League trophy to Italy after 25 "cursed" years, the coach said after his side's emphatic 3-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen in the final.
Ademola Lookman's stunning hat-trick helped Atalanta secure a second major trophy in their 117-year history in the final in Dublin on Wednesday.
They became the first Italian club to win the competition since Parma in 1999, when it was known as the Uefa Cup.
"Hugely proud for all of Italy, because it was a cursed trophy, even if it was only Inter and Roma who made the final over the last 25 years and lost," Gasperini told reporters.
"Having won it with Atalanta is perhaps one of those footballing fairytales that very rarely happen and it does show there's still room for meritocracy in football.
"There's still room for ideas, and it doesn't only come down to numbers and the super league (clubs)."
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