FOCUS IS ON UCL QUALIFICATION - GASPERINI

Atalanta manager GianPieroGasperini says the focus is on securing a place in the Champions League next season and not the Coppa Italia final clash with Juventus next week. He was speaking in his pre-match presser ahead of the Italian Serie A clash at Genoa on Saturday. According to him, his players are not distracted by the Coppa Italia final with the Old Lady and that the immediate focus is on the league.

Gasperini has been able to build Atalanta into one of the best teams in Italian football. They have represented Italian football in the Champions League in the last two seasons and a third successive campaign in Europe's premier club competition is on the horizon.

In each of their two seasons in the Champions League, Atalanta have reached the knockout stage at least. They were knocked out by eventual finalists Paris Saint Germain (PSG) in their debut season in the competition last term. The Italian football representatives exited the competition at the quarterfinal stage. They were unable to match that feat this season after falling to Real Madrid in the round of 16 stage.

Gasperini and his Atalanta players are currently in second place on the Italian Serie A standings behind newly crowned champions Inter Milan and they need to beat Genoa away from home in their league encounter on Saturday to seal another Champions League season for the club.Gasperini is delighted with the achievements recorded this season as he told reporters during his press conference that he would have taken the team's current situation at the start of the season.

Atalanta and Juventus will face each other in the Coppa Italia final on May 19.