On the eve of Atalanta’s home match against Sporting CP, coach Gian Piero Gasperini and Giorgio Scalvini held the floor in the press conference ahead of the fifth match of the 2023/24 UEFA Europa League Group D.

Here’s an excerpt from Gasperini’s statement: “We shouldn’t approach tomorrow’s match with an offhand attitude just because we have two out of the three possible outcomes on our side. We’ll have to tackle the game according to our characteristics and our opponents’ traits. What matters the most to me is the performance altogether and our dexterity in contending with these kinds of opponents. It goes without saying that the stakes are still quite high: namely, the chance to directly qualify for the round of 16 is within our reach. Given that each and every match is a history in itself, I expect an all-out Sporting. We’re back at it with 0-0 on the scoresheet, hence we’ll have to put up a performance worthy of this name to tackle such a demanding foe”.

As for Giorgio Scalvini’s take: “We played a spotless first half in Lisbon. If we want to bring home the result tomorrow, a collectively impeccable showcase will be of the essence. Our opponents will surely put up a good fight. On the flip side, being already qualified might be conducive to an undoubted freedom of mind, allowing us to hit the pitch with the awareness of being able to give our all and our best with less repercussions”.