Atalanta tackle Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday with the match debutants the shock customary bearers for Italian soccer in Lisbon. Serie A champions Juventus and Napoli had been felled within the final 16, leaving Atalanta to hold the nation’s hopes of a primary main European trophy since Inter Milan’s 2010 triumph. PSG is not going to have superstar Kylian Mbappe obtainable, however Atalanta look set to be with out prime scorer Josip Ilicic, who discovered the online 21 occasions in all competitions, together with 5 within the Champions League.
“We miss Ilicic very a lot,” stated coach Gian Piero Gasperini.
“It was his season. Till February, he was essentially the most decisive participant in our ahead line.”
The 32-year-old Slovenian was on type till the coronavirus engulfed Italy and specifically the staff’s dwelling metropolis Bergamo, the place at one level the military was known as in to remove coffins as a result of native morgues couldn’t deal with the variety of virus deaths.
Illcic was overwhelmed by private and psychological difficulties and has been sidelined for the staff’s ultimate video games of the season.
However Atalanta’s power has been the variety of gamers who’ve contributed to their all-competitions tally of 118 objectives.
Colombians Duvan Zapata and Luis Muriel have scored 19 every in whole, with Mario Pasalic netting 11, mercurial Papu Gomez eight and Ruslan Malinovskyi 9.
And the unpredictable nature of the season has given ‘La Dea’ (The Goddess) motive to dream regardless of the membership having gained only one main trophy, the 1963 Italian Cup, in its 112-year historical past.
“Atalanta belongs to town and you’re feeling a part of this,” stated captain Gomez.
“We all know we’re a staff from a metropolis of about 100,000 folks and never the large staff of a capital. However we all know the place we’re going and what we wish.
“We have discovered alongside the best way, from the primary match within the Champions League, after we conceded 4 in opposition to Dinamo Zagreb.
“We raised the extent and now they’re asking us for the Champions League. Reaching this purpose is priceless.”
‘Past optimism’
Atalanta’s transformation into Italian title contenders, with two third-place finishes in as many seasons, has been overseen by the membership’s billionaire proprietor Antonio Percassi, who performed as a defender for the membership.
The 67-year-old took over as president in 2010 and dealing along with his two sons he has lifted the membership to new heights.
“It was not straightforward, however the final three years have gone past essentially the most optimistic forecasts,” stated Percassi.
“It is our story, that of all the ‘Atalantina’ household.”
Gasperini’s European marketing campaign began disastrously, dropping their first three group video games and conceding 11 objectives, however they bounced again to qualify for the knockout levels.
Italy coach Roberto Mancini believes Atalanta have reworked the Italian sport.
“They’ve a contemporary spirit and rules — braveness to dare, attacking fashion, seek for dominance past the end result,” Mancini instructed Gazzetta Dello Sport.
“The highest golf equipment in Europe all play with this mentality, however issues are altering in Italy too, many coaches are extra daring immediately, additionally due to Atalanta.
“They’ve proven sure sort of soccer, in addition to being lovely, reaps outcomes.
“They’ve every thing to play the quarter-final with confidence.”
Promoted
Gasperini in the meantime will hope to observe Hector Cuper’s Valencia, who twenty years in the past had been shock Champions League finalists, within the yr of their third place league end.
Valencia misplaced to Actual Madrid, however gained La Liga the next season.
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