Gian Piero Gasperini, The Antithesis of Italian Defensive Football
Gasperini is loyal to attacking football. His approach was odd amidst the enduring tradition of Italian grendel.
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Atalanta coach from Italy, Gian Piero Gasperini.
Gasperini has long been loyal to the idea of attacking football. This approach feels odd amidst the enduring tradition of Italian-style bolt defense.
At a time when Italian football owed its glory to defensive prowess, Gian Piero Gasperini chose a different path. He has always been loyal to the three-back formation and attacking approach. That choice never brought him a trophy. However, Gasperini ultimately received the honor of tasting the first major trophy of his career.
An expression of relief radiated from Gasperini's face after the referee blew the whistle to signal the end of the Europa League final match between Atalanta and Bayer Leverkusen at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland, early Thursday (23/5/2024). WIB day. Even though Atalanta was three goals ahead without reply until the end of the match, Gasperini chose not to sit down. He remained standing on the sidelines while giving instructions to his players until the last second.
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It is not without reason that Gasperini cannot get rid of his anxious feelings even though his team has a significant lead. Leverkusen is known for never experiencing defeat. The team led by coach Xabi Alonso is also relentless until the end of the match, as they repeatedly manage to equalize and even turn the tables in their favor.
However, Gasperini already holds the key to reducing Leverkusen's explosiveness. The key essence is a philosophy that he has believed in for a long time, attacking football. Gasperini instructed his players to apply individual marking tactics (man to man marking) and high pressing (high defense) to prevent Leverkusen from finding a way out of scoring goals.
In other words, Atalanta's survival process had already begun since the ball was in Leverkusen's defensive area. This defensive approach is considered extreme and not without risk. The reality on the field shows that Atalanta's aggressive playing approach is what made it difficult for Leverkusen, a team which is also designed to dominate ball possession.
Italian coach, Gian Piero Gasperini of Atalanta, signaled during the UEFA Europa League final football match between Atalanta and Bayer Leverkusen at the Dublin Arena stadium in Dublin on May 22, 2024.
On the other hand, individual marking tactics and high pressing also invited Leverkusen to make their own mistakes so they could concede up to three goals. Gasperini's aggressive play is quite rare in Italian football culture, which tends to produce talented players and coaches with a defensive playing approach.
Let's take Massimiliano Allegri as an example, who has achieved numerous successes in the past with Juventus, but with a playing approach that tends to be pragmatic. Allegri is even attached to the identity of "Corto Muso", which means winning but with a narrow goal margin. Unlike other Italian coaches who choose to play it safe by defending, Gasperini instead chooses the opposite approach.
As a 66 year old “veteran” coach, Gasperini can be said to have progressive thinking. The attacking style of play he has been promoting for a long time is in line with the development of modern football. Gasperini's approach has also become a trend for young coaches, such as Pep Guardiola, Xabi Alonso and Roberto De Zerbi, who apply a total football philosophy.
Three defenders
For a long time, Gasperini has liked the three-defender strategy. His favorite formation is not far from 3-4-3, which is sometimes modified to 3-4-2-1 or 3-4-1-2. In front of the three defenders there are two box-to-box midfielders. The two midfielders will be flanked by two wing-backs whose main task is to stretch the opponent's defense and take advantage of the width of the field to send crosses.
Time passed and Gasperini remained loyal to the three-back formation even though it never brought him a trophy. Gasperini's loyalty to this formation is because it allows him to put together a team that displays aggressive and flexible play. He always instructed his players not to give opposing players the slightest opportunity to develop their game. The instructions were translated into high pressing and tight guarding carried out collectively.
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“Defense makes you invincible. But if you want to win, you have to attack. This is the spirit and mentality that I want my team to have. The identity you create in a team must always be there. "You have to grow and develop, day by day, because if you don't develop, you will lose," said Gasperini, quoted from Football Italia.
So, it is not surprising that Gasperini was once called the man who sparked the Italian football renaissance. He changed the world's perception of Italian football. While Italy has long been associated with a defensive style of football, thanks to Atalanta's appearance on the European football stage, Italy is now seen as progressive, modern and more attacking.
Gian Piero Gasperini signaled during the Group F UEFA Champions League football match between Atalanta and Manchester United, at Stadio di Bergamo, in Bergamo, Italy, on Tuesday, November 2, 2021.
Gasperini started his career in the world of football as a player. He is recorded as having defended a number of clubs in the lower divisions of the Italian League. His position when actively playing is as a midfielder. However, Gasperini failed to achieve significant success as a player and decided to turn to coaching. His first role as a coach came in 1991, when taking charge of Crotone's youth team.
Gasperini's experience as a player also gives him a broader perspective in maximizing the potential of players. Gasperini transformed Ademola Lookman, who failed to shine at Everton, into a counted striker in the Italian league. Gasperini astutely saw Lookman's strengths as a finisher rather than as a winger.
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Lookman has speed in shooting. He is also very sharp when near the goal. That is why Gasperini often plays him as a central attacker.
"I know some people say I train with an iron fist. But I always think you get the best results when you convince a player. When you successfully convince them, the player will follow you. If not, they may play without the same attitude and determination," said Gasperini.
For a figure who has had a huge influence on Italian football over the last decade, people might be surprised to learn that the Europa League title is the only major trophy Gasperini has ever won. But the trophy is a serious reminder to everyone of how important he is to Italian football. (AFP/REUTERS)
Atalanta Manager Gian Piero Gasperini (left) reacts during the last match of the Group C stage of the Champions League between Shakhtar Donetsk and Atalanta at Metalist Stadium, Kharkiv, early Thursday morning (12/12/2019).
Gian Piero Gasperini
Born: Grugliasco, January 26 1958
Nationality: Italian
Achievement: 2024 Europa League Champion
