Maurizio Sarri has urged Atalanta players not to be fooled by the name of their opponent in the next Conference League match against Pafos. The coach underlined that, although the Greek attacker is a good team, they were "touched" in the round of 16 and have Brazilian and Portuguese players with notable technical skills. Sarri asked for humility and reiterated that it is not useful to worry about goal difference: "If you think about it, it means that you have already given up the game."
Atalanta's calendar is very busy, with three matches in six days, and Sarri wants to involve as many players as possible. “I want everyone to be motivated and feel they can contribute,” he explained, highlighting the importance of maintaining high concentration in view of the upcoming challenges.
Pafos coach Ricardo Sá Pinto expressed confidence in his team. "We are not afraid of Atalanta. We are aware of the value of the Dea, but we do not start beaten. A draw would still be an important result", he declared, underlining the objective of winning and the desire not to reveal the lineup so as not to give ideas to the rival.
Yesterday's news also brought two bad surprises for Atalanta. Giorgio Scalvini suffered a slight sprain of the flexors of his left leg, while Franck Kessie suffers from an overload in his right calf. Both players will be excluded from the match against Pafos and will be re-evaluated in the next few days, with particular attention to the next league match against Milan.
With attention paid to both technical preparation and risk management, Atalanta prepares for a crucial match in the Conference League, while Pafos looks to capitalize on the chance to secure a positive result against one of the strongest teams in the Italian league. The result of this match could have important repercussions on Atalanta's European path and its position in Serie A.