Gasperini Exposed: Former Players Unveil Dictatorial Coaching Methods

Former Atalanta players Joakim Maehle and Merih Demiral have recently spoken out against their former coach, Gian Piero Gasperini, labeling him as a dictator due to his authoritarian coaching methods.

Their statements shed light on the reasons behind their departure from the Italian football club.

According to Danish wing-back Joakim Maehle, playing for Atalanta felt like being in the army, where freedom was scarce and fear prevailed.

Maehle, who recently joined Wolfsburg, expressed that Gasperini’s strict approach was the primary reason he decided to leave the club. He sought a new challenge and desired a different role within a team where unity and a positive atmosphere reign.

Maehle further highlighted Gasperini’s rigid training schedule, stating that the team always trained in the afternoon with little opportunity to enjoy their surroundings.

Gasperini’s control extended beyond training sessions, often forcing players to stay overnight at the facility if there were consecutive double training sessions.

Ex-Atalanta player Maehle went in on Gasperini 😳

"You don’t feel like a person, you feel like just a number. you don’t have any kind of rapport with the manager.

He can torment you over weird things. For example, Hojlund and I went to training together but he didn’t want us… pic.twitter.com/22gCRdJwf1

— Italian Football TV (@IFTVofficial) September 5, 2023

Maehle agreed with the interviewer’s suggestion that Gasperini’s management style bordered on dictatorship, acknowledging the fear-based decision-making process enforced by the coach.

Maehle’s frustrations were not limited to training alone, as he revealed an incident involving his teammate Rasmus Hojlund, now playing for Manchester United.

Gasperini prohibited them from driving to training together, thus preventing them from bonding and enjoying each other’s company during the commute.

The striker felt dehumanized and expressed his dissatisfaction with Gasperini’s lack of interpersonal relationships.

Merih Demiral, currently playing for Al-Ahli, supported Maehle’s claims by responding to a tweet about the interview, simply stating, “Everything is true.”

Demiral hinted at revealing further details in an upcoming interview, suggesting more instances of Gasperini’s management style impacting players negatively.

Imparerai presto tutti i fatti. Aspetta l’intervista. https://t.co/1tjQzhmt3K

— Merih Demiral (@Merihdemiral) September 5, 2023

Gian Piero Gasperini assumed the role of Atalanta’s head coach in 2016 and successfully transformed the team into one of Italy’s top-performing clubs.

With their attacking prowess and attractive style of play, Atalanta consistently secured UEFA Champions League qualifications, including a remarkable quarter-final appearance in 2020.

However, Gasperini’s strained relationships with his players have been evident throughout his tenure, leading to departures that have weakened the team’s roster.

Notably, the departure of Argentinean international Papu Gomez, a key player for Atalanta, followed a significant disagreement with Gasperini.