In recent years, the Bergamasque club has seduced Europe. Good management and a coach at the heart of the project: this stability is rewarded. Atalanta have managed to extricate themselves from the group stage in the last two editions. Performance to underline, because the Dea had never qualified for the C1 before that. The Orobici have been regularly present in Europe for several years. They are rarely eliminated by weaker than them on paper.
In Italy in recent seasons there has often been a distinction between good teams in the league and good teams in Europe. Many thought that Atalanta was just a surprise. Then there was the Europa League and this (honorable) seventh place in 2017-2018. In this season, the Bergamasques had rather managed to manage both Serie A and Europe. In the round of 16 of C3, it was only Dortmund, a big club, which had eliminated them. Even if the defeat against Copenhagen in the Europa League play-offs had been difficult to digest at the start of the 2018-2019 season, the Dea had been able to bounce back. And since that defeat, the Bergamasques have moved to the next level: the Champions League. In this competition, they were eliminated by Paris Saint-Germain and then Real Madrid, two big names. It is therefore difficult to blame them, especially since they have always passed the group stages, whether in C3 or C1.
A constant progression
Atalanta is the Italian club which has made the most progress in recent years, at national and continental level. Since the arrival of President Percassi eleven years ago, the company has moved from Serie B to the Champions League finals. In this team where the system is more important than the players, such consistency is a fair reward. A well-managed club manages to fill the departures of players. This is perhaps what the big Italian clubs are currently lacking. For example, Juventus is seeing its workforce drop in quality year after year. Inter have the potential to go far in Europe next year, with an experienced coach and players. But over the last few seasons, the only club that has been able to reach the expected level from the group stage is indeed Atalanta.
Losing each time against stronger than her, Atalanta has almost become a certainty at European level. Admittedly, Real Madrid are not at their peak. But with players like Benzema, Modric, Ramos and many others, such a club must claim final victory every year. The consistency of Atalanta at the top level is not present in other Italian clubs.
An example to follow ?
While the future does not guarantee Atalanta anything, no one can say that she disappointed when she was in the group stage in Europe. The only downside is the defeat in the play-offs against Copenhagen. But she was able to recover by revealing herself in the Champions League. The Dea would probably not have had a chance during a golden age of calcio. But she took advantage of the bad weather on the side of the big clubs to put Bergamo on the map of European football.
At the tactical level, Atalanta is also the Italian club that has adapted best to modern football. In terms of pressing, overtaking, Gasperini understood what game was effective both in the league and in Europe. Bergamo’s defense is not flawless, far from it, but the attack is capable of great things. The intensity demanded of players impresses in Italy, but it should be the norm. The pace of senator and the game of possession is no longer appropriate. While Atalanta should not serve as a model for all Italian teams, it should inspire other clubs to change the way they approach European matches.
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