Ricardo Sá Pinto said that Pafos' next match against Atalanta in the Conference League will be an important challenge, but that his team is ready to give their all. The press conference, held at the All-New-Balance Arena, began at 6.30pm and saw the Greek coach expressing his confidence in the result, while acknowledging the strength of his opponent.
According to Sá Pinto, Atalanta is a “great team” with high-level players and an experienced coach, who could even win the competition. “It's the third season in a row we've played in the Conference League and our aim is to improve,” he said. "We want to play it tomorrow, but we have to respect Atalanta. I asked my players to enjoy the tournament and do their best." The coach also reiterated that there is no pressure to win, but that mutual respect between the two teams is fundamental.
Sá Pinto commented on the words of Gian Piero Sarri, Atalanta coach, underlining that "these words always make me happy: they respect us, as we respect them". He highlighted that Pafos players worked hard in Cyprus and hopes the team will enjoy the match. Regarding the possibility that Atalanta conceded many goals, the coach said that, despite this, Atalanta remains a quality team with individuals capable of turning the game around, and that with the right determination Pafos can achieve a positive result.
Regarding the formation, Sá Pinto has chosen not to reveal the details so as not to compromise Sarri's strategy. However, he underlined the importance of the support of the fans, saying that "the fans follow us with great affection both at home and away, especially abroad". He encouraged the players to fight until the end to make the supporters happy.
Finally, the coach expressed his hope of winning, but acknowledged that a draw would still be an important result for the team. With the match scheduled for Thursday evening, Pafos prepares to challenge Atalanta with the determination to give their all and respect the strength of their opponent.