ROME – Gian Piero Gasperini had the coronavirus . Virus that the Atalanta coach had in early March.
"The day before the match in Valencia (return of the Champions League round of 16) I was sick, the afternoon of the game was worse," said the 62-year-old coach, "I didn't have a pretty face on the bench. It was March 10 ".
"The following two nights in Zingonia I slept little – the coach confessed to the Gazzetta dello Sport -. I didn't have a fever, but I felt like I was in pieces at 40. At night I thought: if I go in there (referring to the hospital, editor's note), what happens to me? I can't leave now, I have so many things to do … I was saying it jokingly, to exorcise. But I really thought so. "
However, Gasperini never carried out the swab and only ten days ago did serological tests which confirmed that the 62-year-old had Covid-19.
A story that Valencia didn't like. Especially because the technician had "hidden" the disease.
"We are surprised that the coach, both the day before and the day of the match of 10 March at Mestalla, was aware of having symptoms presumably compatible with coronavirus and had not taken preventive measures, putting at risk, if that was been the case, many people during his trip and stay in Valencia "reads the company's statement.
Valencia, which after the match with Atalanta had 10 players and 15 positive employees, points out: “It must be remembered that this game was held behind closed doors, surrounded by rigorous measures, by the obligation of the Spanish health authorities to prevent the risk of contagion, precisely in the presence of people from an area at risk ".
The only positivity officially declared by Atalanta was that of Sportiello, who returned negative after more than two months.
Atalanta made it known, after the press release from the Spaniards, that all protocols were respected during the trip also because the coach had not had a fever or respiratory problems either before leaving for Valencia or during his stay. (source GAZZETTA DELLO SPORT)
Source: Blitz Quotidiano