At 66 years old, Gian Piero Gasperini wins his first trophy as a coach, a journey in Italy that would have been blank without a trophy.
He won it in a style and manner that would be unforgettable, ending Leverkusen’s run of 51 games unbeaten across all competitions.
“It’s not just that we won, it’s how we won!” the 66 years old experienced coach said with delight, he knew his team was an underdog. He won the title with significant upsets.
“We have beaten Liverpool when they were top of the Premier League table, Sporting and now Bayer Leverkusen after 51 games, we’re extremely proud” he truly deserves the title, and taking pride in the effort of his team to surmount the challenges to come out victorious is worth it.
On the history book is a Nigerian forward, whose heroic display would not only be recorded as the nemesis of Bayer Leverkusen who were on the verge of a perfect season, but the historic making of cutting edge strikes that gifted Gasperini his first trophy in Italy.
Ademola Lookman is a name that would forever remain in the heart of the coach. His hatric was executed in a fashion similar to Messi’s magic or influence.
Little wonder immediately after the match, the bench of Atalanta and their backroom staff ran swiftly, with immeasurable delight to mob him. They swarmed around him and lifted him joyfully in the air couple of times. He was celebrated like Messi, lifted and adorned for his brilliance throughout the match.
For now, that is Atalanta’s World Cup, and Lookman is the hero like Messi was. The commitment shown to win the cup was to make up for the last heartbreak. It paid, a hard work that couldn’t allow Bayer Leverkusen play their game.
Leverkusen just wrapped up their unbeaten run in the domestic league and entered the fray as favorites, but were dominated by the sheer determination of Atalanta, who appeared to desire the cup more than Leverkusen.
It was Atalanta’s last hope of lifting something this season and they showed the hunger with a counter-pressing plan that suffocated Leverkusen. Leaving Alonso with nothing but shock.
At half-time, it was clear Alonso had urged his players to stick to their pattern of play and assured them it would pay off, but the master of combacks failed to find their magic wande. Still, Atalanta came out with the same spirit, perhaps told to not rest on their laurel because Leverkusen don’t know how to lose a match.
Atalanta waited until stoppage time to start their celebrations, knowing that nothing could stop them at three goals up.
It was a deserved victory. Atalanta would look back and say they dumped Liverpool, SP and now unbeaten Leverkusen, and it would give them the motivation to go even further next season. They can challenge the best and come out victorious.
Leverkusen will now take a rest, start afresh, but there is one more mission left. They have the opportunity to make it two trophies, and they are primed for it.
It has not been easy playing under pressure, and setting a new record of 51 games unbeaten. But losing the streak when it’s needed most is a disappointment that may haunt them for a long time.
