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Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini has not made any secret of how much tomorrow night’s game will mean not just for his side, but in Atalanta’s history.

Liverpool travel to Bergamo to face Atalanta for the decisive second-leg of this Europa League quarter-final match-up tomorrow evening.

The Serie A representatives shocked the world with their 3-0 win over Liverpool at Anfield last week, with goals from Gianluca Scamacca and Mario Pasalic inflicting the harm on the Reds.

Of course, Gasperini will know that the tie is far from over, despite the commanding lead his side hold.

Although the Reds are in a poor run of form after dropped points against Manchester United and Crystal Palace, it would be unwise to write them off in European competition.

The Atalanta manager said as much when speaking after his sides 2-2 draw with Verona on Monday, with La Dea letting a two-goal lead slip late on in the game.

“We saw tonight that Verona were able to score two goals in four minutes,” he began to Sky Sport Italia.

“I’ve seen Liverpool score three in six minutes in a Champions League final against Milan!”

Atalanta saw key man and captain Marten De Roon rested on Monday due to suspension, as was Davide Zappacosta.

But now Gian Piero Gasperini has made even bigger claims ahead of the crucial tie on Thursday night.

What did Gian Piero Gasperini say?

Speaking in his pre-match press conference (via Atalantini.com), the Italian admitted that tomorrow’s match at the Gewiss Stadium is probably the biggest game in Atalanta’s history:

“In Liverpool the city brought us well, we hope to do well at home as well.

Tomorrow is perhaps the most important game in Atalanta’s history.”

[The mistake would to] think about the 3-0 win in the first leg.

We have to think that we have to win qualification starting from 0-0 on this pitch.”

When quizzed on Liverpool’s recent stumbles in the Premier League, Gasperini was not drawn into talk that is a weakened Liverpool side:

“Liverpool are a great team always.

But Liverpool remains one of the greatest teams in the world.”

“We have to approach the game like we did in Liverpool, thinking we have to score and get a result.”

“We know that anything can happen in football in a few minutes, we have to be aware that the wolf [Liverpool] we saw in the first leg was perhaps not so bad.”

“Bergamo is experiencing an eve of great excitement and enthusiasm.

What seemed like an impossible goal has become possible
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