Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini has revealed that he attended his side’s Champions League second leg clash with Valencia despite suffering from Covid-19.
The Spanish club have slammed that Atalanta boss for putting others’ heath at risk with such an irresponsible move.
Gasperini has revealed that he was sick the day before the game but he chose to attend anyway. Atalanta won the tie 8-4 on aggregate.
Although the Atalanta manager was not tested for Covid-19 before the game and he did not know he had the virus, he had extreme symptoms and he should have been more careful.
La Liga outfit Valencia have now released a statement regarding Gasperini’s revelations.
Their statement read: “Given the statements by Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini, which appeared in the Italian press this Sunday, Valencia CF wishes to publicly express its surprise at the fact that the coach of the opposing team in our UEFA Champions League quarter-final tie recognizes that, both the day before and the day of the match played on March 10 in Mestalla he was aware of, at least himself, suffering from symptoms theoretically compatible with those of coronavirus without taking preventive measures, putting at risk, if that had been the case, numerous people during their trip to and stay in Valencia.
“It must be remembered that this game was held behind closed doors, amidst strict measures in this regard, on the orders of the Spanish health authorities to prevent the risk of contagion by Covid-19, precisely due to the presence of persons from an area already publicly classified as ‘at risk’ at that time.”
Atalanta have been flying this season and Gasperini has done a great job with them. Not only have they impressed in the Serie A, their free flowing attacking football won a lot of plaudits in the Champions League as well.
