Atalanta began their 2020/2021 campaign in similar attacking fashion that made them popular in Europe as goals from Papu Gomez, Luis Muriel, Hans Hateboer and Marten de Roon made sure Torino could not stage a comeback.
“We turned the game around and we were dominating, but their goal for 3-2 in theory reopened a match that had seemed closed. These are areas where we need to improve,” the Italian coach told Sky Sport Italia.
La Dea finished third in Serie A last season, having scored the most goals(98), and reached the Champions League quarter final in their debut season in the competition.
Gasperini was asked if his side can mount a title challenge this season, and the former Genoa manager played down any Scudetto talks as he thinks it is too early for that despite admitting the Bergamo-based team are stronger this year.
“We never pulled back from any challenge. However, we cannot have the Scudetto as an initial aim at the start of the season,” he added.
“We’ll try to start strong, as we always do, and are up against teams that are improved, a league that will be more balanced.
“As time goes on, we’ll see where we are, how the others are doing, and then evaluate it, but Atalanta cannot begin looking for the title.
“Last season, if we had won in Turin with five or six rounds to go, we might’ve had a chance, but we got there step by step. It wasn’t the initial aim.
“I do feel we are stronger now than last season. We’ve got more confidence, as with today we conceded first, but didn’t let it faze us.”
“There is greater self-belief, and also some players who arrived and give us more options, more alternative ways to play.
“If we manage to get Josip Ilicic back to his best, then we will definitely take a step up.”
