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Atalanta coach Gasperini: Napoli beat us due to self-doubt

Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini was left frustrated after their defeat to Napoli.

La Dea lost 2-1 in Walter Mazzarri's first game back in charge of Napoli.

“Unfortunately, some incidents prevent us raising the bar, despite the fact we play overall at the same level as teams like Inter, Napoli and Juventus. When this team shakes off some of its fears, it really causes problems for the opposition," Gasperini told DAZN.

“The game was on our side and yet we emerged empty-handed due to an error, something that is happening too often lately.

“The big teams raise the level and your mistakes are punished. They put the pressure on, force you into more errors and we haven't learned to deal with that yet.

“We did very well in midfield, as I thought it was Pasalic's best performance of the season in a slightly deeper role. When we improved the attacking down the flanks, we improved the overall standard of football.

“Pasalic had the opportunity to play in that role a few times and rarely found the right position, whereas Koopmeiners generally does flourish there. Pasalic has the characteristics to be a midfielder and he did it well today.

“In the first half, we were a little in-between pressing and attacking, but we did much better after the restart and that is why it's more frustrating we lost."

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Carlos Volcano

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