President Percassi: “An incredible event”

On the eve of Atalanta-PSG, the one-off match of the Uefa Champions League quarter-finals, President Antonio Percassi joined the team in the training camp in Lisbon: "It's an incredible event for our Club”.

“I came to face history. It's an incredible event for the club, of international importance. We are realising that Atalanta performed a miracle. With great merits, as a great style of play joined the results. Hopefully we can do well tomorrow night. We're here to learn. It's like going to the university among the best players in the world. Whatever happens will be good”.

It'll be good either way, as Atalanta start strong after the third place in Serie A for the second year running and the qualification for next year's UCL.

“That's another huge step. Doing that again, finishing third and qualifying for the Champions League is something incredible. We keep saying the same things, but it's the truth. Such Atalanta is stratospheric”.

Atalanta, Bergamo, is now known all over the world, because the visibility that this competition is giving is incredible.

“Yes, in terms of marketing, like Atalanta has carried the name of Bergamo in the world and of our citizens and fans, who have experienced tough moments, therefore it was also touching, Atalanta was luckily or deservedly the instrument to introduce Bergamo to the world and especially Europe. Bergamo is a strong city, the Bergamaschi are very strong. They didn't deserve what happened, but everybody understood that they are tough people who never gives up”.

President Percassi is a tough president. Ten years ago, did you imagine that you would be able to play in the UCL quarter-finals in your tenth anniversary?

“Ten years ago I was thinking about avoiding relegation, like I always do. That's the first objective. We have always thought like that, it's fundamental to stay in the top-flight. Then, whatever comes next is good. This went beyond all unimaginable limits, but it's been four years that we play in European competitions. Atalanta is becoming an important brand, name. Everybody wants to imitate Atalanta's model, at the management and sporting levels, or in general as a club made of many instruments and things. This is the pride of the Bergamaschi, who know how to coordinate a company, a very difficult, special company, but in excellent condition”.

How did you find the squad?

“I saw them calm. They have bigger experience now. The Champions League is something unbelievable. There are teams and players that are star players, the most coveted. Those who, in terms of speed and technique, represent the best in the world”.

We asked Gasperini this question, we also ask you this: will you be able to sleep tonight?

“Absolutely not. I'll be awake and I'm looking forward to the dawn. It'll be a very long day waiting for the match to start. In any case, even after the match, it'll be a long night that keeps you awake. For many reasons, as tomorrow the club will take a leap forward from every point of view. We're still learning, we must improve. And tomorrow will be a nice lesson”.

There'll be so many Atalanta fans that tonight won't sleep either.

“This is painful, as it'd have been incredible to have our fans by our side. They are a force of nature and that is widely acknowledged in Italy and internationally. Our fans are amazing. We are with them. Let's pray”.