Fans have been left baffled by Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini’s decision to wear jeans during the Europa League final on Wednesday night.
His side dominated Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen, with Ademola Lookman’s sensational hat-trick of goals ending the Bundesliga side’s hopes of going the entire season unbeaten, with Atalanta winning 3-0.
The former Everton and Fulham winger, Lookman, would find the back of the net in the first 11 minutes of the match, before scoring again soon after with a superbly taken strike from outside the penalty area.
The 26-year-old would wrap up the game in the 75th minute, driving forwards into the Leverkusen penalty area to smash the ball into the top right side of the goal to seal a 3-0 victory. Jubliant scenes would erupt after the full-time whistle, with Lookman’s team-mates throwing him up into the air in celebration.
Despite his sensational trio of goals, fans were humerously distracted by the Gasperini’s outfit choice, with some being left baffled as to why the Italian coach was wearing jeans during a European Cup.
The 66-year-old had donned a pair navy blue jeans and a puffer jacket with the Atalanta badge emblazoned on it for the final. He was also sporting a trendy pair of blue trainers.
While managers in English football have been criticised previously for not wearing a suit to the FA Cup final, with some raising eyebrows at Pep Guardiola’s decision not to wear a jacket and tie during last year’s final at Wembley, supporters were split over whether Gaspirini’s outfit it was a good look on Wednesday.
One fan seemed sceptical, writing: ‘Hang on the Atalanta manager is wearing jeans??? Yeah sorry I’m not having this.’
Another wrote: ‘Blue jeans for the Europa League final. Just another day for Gian piero Gasperini.’
‘Is Gasperini the first manager to win a European trophy in jeans?’ one asked.
‘Gian Piero Gasperini, in the biggest game of his management career is wearing blue denim jeans. Love him,’ one wrote.
‘I’ve never in my life seen a football manager wear jeans on the touchline Gasperini, what a guy! Yet another reason to love Atalanta,’ another added.
Gaspirini has been in charge at Atalanta for eight years and has overseen 385 matches.
Tonight he guided his side to their first European title, and ending their 61-year wait for silverware.
After the game, he acknowledge that his side had written historyin Dublin: ‘I think we wrote history, also for the way we won it.
‘It was just extraordinary, we defeated Liverpool, Sporting who won the championship. When we faced Liverpool they were first in the Premier League… And now the German champions.
‘Incredible. The boys were extraordinary, a memorable performance.’
