Gasperini dismisses Scudetto talk

Gian Piero Gasperini has dismissed suggestions Atalanta can mount a serious challenge for the Serie A title this season. Atalanta are currently third in the table – three points behind table-toppers Juventus – and they are on a seven-match unbeaten run in the league, including Sunday’s 7-1 thrashing of Udinese at the Atleti Azzurri d’Italia.
La Dea’s impressive recent form has got many people suggesting they could mount a serious challenge for a first ever Scudetto, but Gasperini, who led his side to their highest-ever league finish last season when they came third, has been quick to play down such talk. “We have got our feet planted on the ground,” the 61-year-old told reporters. “The compliments are very pleasing, but this Scudetto talk is purely a media invention.”
The Bergamo outfit will face a stern test of their credentials when they travel to the Stadio San Paolo to take on Carlo Ancelotti’s Napoli on Wednesday.
Atalanta are a place and three points ahead of Napoli in the table, and, although the result of Wednesday’s match won’t be decisive, Gasperini believes a victory would certainly give his team a boost heading into the rest of the campaign. “At Napoli it will be a tough but prestigious test, they give you the strength to face the others,” Gasperini added. “We are just 10 games into the championship, but if it goes well, it will give us a boost.”