The new coach introduces himself: “There must be a desire for revenge, we don’t deserve this ranking position”. And he thanks Juric: “I found a team in good conditions”
On the backdrop of the conference room of the New Balance Arena among the various sponsors there is the writing “Benvenuto Raffaele Palladino”. The new Atalanta coach arrives a few minutes late (due to the usual rush hour traffic), accompanied by Luca Percassi. The CEO from Bergamo wishes him “a big and enormous good luck”, bringing greetings from the president Antonio Percassi and the co-president Stephen Pagliuca. “I’m happy – says Palladino -, it may seem banal and obvious but that’s what I feel. My staff and I will give our best for this club. I’m proud to represent Atalanta”.
DNA DEA
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Palladino’s journey begins uphill, with the match against Napoli next Saturday and a thirteenth place in Serie A to improve: “The keys I touched were few but clear, I hit a lot on Atalanta’s DNA, on intensity, philosophy of work, concreteness and sacrifice. There is little time but we have to get the most out of it. Here there are great human and technical values to work on. I was waiting for Atalanta because for me it is a top club, I had many calls, when this one arrived I left immediately. We have the same objectives and we are on the same wavelength”.
IN THE FURROW OF GASP
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After Juric, we start again in the wake of another Gasperinian: “Every coach has their own ideas, I want to say goodbye to Juric with whom I have a very good relationship, I thank him because I found the team in good physical condition. My phone blew up in recent days, Gasperini didn’t call me, even though we often talk. For me he was a master, I always thank him for what he gave me. He was unique here, he did something indelible but we have to look forward. I will try to put in things that I think are right, but the dogma is to try to control the matches. I want to see a courageous team. We don’t deserve this ranking but the team has to prove it on the pitch. We have three competitions that we care about. Everyone can play but it’s a test for them.
TRIDENT
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Then the module, with the confirmation of the three-man defence: “I am not a fundamentalist but I am open to understanding the characteristics of the players to put them in a position to express themselves at their best. I am looking for the right outfit for the team, which has been set up to play the 3-4-2-1 but you can also play with just one attacking midfielder, switching to the 3-4-1-2”.
GOAL WANTED
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As for the individuals, Palladino focused on the attack: “I believe a lot in Lookman, I called him like all the players who were in the national team. He presented himself well, I will evaluate his use based on what the pitch tells me and the training he will do. I found Scamacca well, he came back with great desire, I like him and I believe in him as much as in all the attackers I have. Gianluca has great potential and can do well. He must understand like everyone else that he must be strong in training. Maldini? I believe in Daniel a lot because I know him, he knows that when he gets the opportunity he has to take advantage of it. I don’t look at anyone. I want the attackers to score more goals and I’m the one who has to put the team in a position to score more.”
STAYING IN EUROPE
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The objective is to do well in all three competitions and win the cups again next season: “The club has always been used to being in Europe, something extraordinary has been done in recent years, the objective is to bring it back to those levels because the squad is strong. The team must do more, now head down and pedal. I want a bold team. For me Atalanta is a source of great satisfaction but both I and the team must demonstrate that wearing this shirt is pride, passion, sacrifice. We must bring the fans to have enthusiasm. The spirit of the club is that of the city of Bergamo.”
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