Valencia Blast Atalanta Coach Gian Piero Gasperini After Startling Coronavirus Revelation

Valencia have issued a statement condemning the actions of Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini, after he admitted to taking charge of their Champions League last 16 clash in March despite having coronavirus symptoms.

The two sides met behind closed doors at the Mestalla on 10 March, with Atalanta sealing a maiden quarter final place after Josep Ilicic inspired a thrilling 4-3 win, handing the Italians an 8-4 aggregate win.

But those events have now been overshadowed somewhat after Gasperini recently revealed that he took his seat in the dugout even though he was feeling generally unwell - suffering from fever like symptoms.

Now, Valencia have responded to the Italian's admission with a fiercely worded, lengthy statement, released on the club's official website.

"Given the statements by Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini, which appeared in the Italian press this Sunday, Valencia CF wishes to publicly express its surprise at the fact that the coach of the opposing team in our UEFA Champions League quarter-final tie recognises that, both the day before and the day of the match played on March 10 in Mestalla he was aware of, at least himself, suffering from symptoms theoretically compatible with those of coronavirus without taking preventive measures, putting at risk, if that had been the case, numerous people during their trip to and stay in Valencia.

"It must be remembered that this game was held behind closed doors, amidst strict measures in this regard, on the orders of the Spanish health authorities to prevent the risk of contagion by Covid-19, precisely due to the presence of persons from an area already publicly classified as 'at risk' at that time."

Gasperini's revelation, to Italian publication Gazzetta dello Sport, confirmed that he had been unwell in the lead up to the game but had not been tested for COVID-19 prior to the game, but subsequent testing had revealed antibodies in his system deriving from having contracted coronavirus.

"I was scared. The day before the game I was sick, the afternoon of the game worse. The two nights after I slept little," Gasperini said. “If you look at the pictures, I did not look good on the bench. That was March 10. The two nights afterwards, I did not sleep well. I didn’t have a fever, but I felt like I did."

"The day after, the team received food and 2008 Dom Perignon from a Michelin-star chef who is a fan of Atalanta. I tasted it and said: 'This is water…' The food tasted like bread. I had completely lost my sense of taste."

Gasperini self-isolated for three weeks shortly after the match in March, and only discovered he had the virus two weeks ago after a blood test. He will take to the Serie A touchline once more when play resumes on 20 June, while La Liga plan to kick off a week earlier on 11 June.