Atalanta coach Maurizio Sarri talk to Sky after im team win Pafos for Conference League, and e no hide say the match start well for him side. E talk say unlike the game against Venezia, Atalanta create plenty chances that night. Sarri talk say tonight dem make better decisions about when to go direct and when to keep possession. E add say dem give the opposition virtually nothing, apart from that chance at the end, and e sorry say dem concede goal.
Sarri still yan say the gap in technical quality clear because Atalanta play well. But e warn say for matches like this, risk dey say e no go show, especially as Pafos only lose 3-2 to Fiorentina right at the end. So e talk say the task no be particularly straightforward. The team do well, according to am.
For im assessment, Sarri talk say in the last two matches, Atalanta don considerably increase dia ability to pose threat. But e talk say now dem also need find balance and solidity.
On the injury matter, Sarri talk say if too many injuries dey, make dem file complaint with the league, UEFA and FIFA. E talk say injuries too plenty for everybody, not just Atalanta. According to am, dem dey under absurd fixture schedule and all the consequences wey follow.
Sarri talk say e don read about several cases over these three days of European football, and na unfortunately risk you run. E add say when players return from international duty, another risk dey: Scalvini get injured just after returning from international duty, and Raspadori also come back carrying a knock. Sarri talk say na the fixture schedule, and wetin really surprise am na say the players association no dey talk anything.
Sarri also describe say e fairly easy to work for Atalanta because the club na model, and e, at least, never encounter situation like this before. E talk say of course this na team wey don play completely different kind of football for many years, so e fit bring difficulties, but the players willing and dem dey improve. E hope say plenty room still dey for improvement: honestly, e no know how far dem can go in first year, but in the medium term dem don set aim to reach quite high level.
Meanwhile, Atalanta 3-1 win over Venezia come at a cost. Raoul Bellanova and Giorgio Scalvini forced off injured, and Eljif Elmas sent off late on. According to TuttoMercatoWeb, both defenders sustain muscle problems and dem replace dem with Lorenzo Bernasconi and Sead Kolasinac for 67th minute. The pair go undergo tests in coming hours to determine extent.
Elmas compound matters late on. Initially dem book am for 89th minute for reckless challenge, VAR send referee Paride Tremolada to monitor, and the caution upgrade to straight red. That rule am out of Sunday meeting with Ruben Amorim Milan at San Siro. It na blow for Maurizio Sarri, whose side just end run of three straight defeats. Scalvini had played every minute of Atalanta league campaign before Monday.
For Elmas performance, e assist once and record one shot, one on goal, five crosses, three accurate, and five corners before dem send am off late for Monday 3-1 win against Venezia. Elmas draw rare start, benefit from new formation and star as right winger, and e tee up Nikola Krstovic with corner kick. But e also make ill-advised tackle from behind when game don long decide, and e go suspended for next Sunday home game versus Milan. Nicola Zalewski or Lazar Samardzic go take im place.
