Torino coach Ivan Juric has paid a glowing tribute to Atalanta counterpart Gian Piero Gasperini.

Juric says Gasperini has influenced Italian football to the same extent as AC Milan great Arrigo Sacchi.

“As far as I am concerned, Gasperini is like Sacchi. It is natural that his influence on me is strong," said Juric in his press conference this afternoon, making the comparison with the Grande Milan coach of the late 1980s.

“Like Sacchi, his ideas transformed football. Sacchi introduced the line of four and playing the offside trap and everyone talked about him, just like Gasperini changed so many elements of the sport."

Torino meet La Dea later tonight.

“It is not a match against him, but against a wonderful Atalanta side."