Atalanta’s manager Gian Piero Gasperini was sent off during his team’s 3-1 victory over Parma, which propelled them to the top of the Serie A table alongside Inter Milan. The incident occurred in the 54th minute when Gasperini received two yellow cards in quick succession from referee Manganiello.
In a post-match interview with Sky, Gasperini explained the circumstances leading to his dismissal. He claimed that the fourth official had provoked him by staring at him on the bench for two minutes. “I told him, ‘Watch the field, not me,'” Gasperini recounted. “He then called the referee, who sent me off. He managed to become the protagonist this evening when he wasn’t otherwise.”
The expulsion came after Gasperini contested a couple of the referee’s decisions, including a perceived missed foul call and a dubious free kick awarded to Cancellieri. The manager was caught on camera and microphone directing the word “Deficiente” (idiot) towards the referee.
Gasperini now faces a suspension and is likely to miss Atalanta’s next match against Roma at the Olimpico. Depending on the referee’s report, he could potentially receive a more severe punishment of two to three match bans.
Reflecting on the match itself, Gasperini praised his team’s performance, particularly in the first half. He emphasized the importance of their upcoming Champions League fixture against Young Boys, describing it as potentially decisive for qualification.
When asked about Atalanta’s title chances, Gasperini remained cautious: “We’re not hiding from the Scudetto talk, but at the 13th matchday, our goal is to stay as high as possible. It’s premature to discuss it today.”
The manager also shared his philosophy on playing style, stating, “I struggle to be content with or play matches with little action. I can’t conceive of a match without trying to score goals. That’s why I’ve never won the best defense award.”
