Atalanta arrive in Amsterdam carrying two contrasting strands of their season: a defeat at Milan behind them, but a perfect record in the Conference League still intact. The meeting with Ajax is the most demanding assignment of their league phase so far, and Maurizio Sarri wants his side to meet the occasion rather than be overwhelmed by it.
Sarri described Ajax as a technically gifted opponent playing in a setting worthy of a major European night. For Atalanta, the task is to turn encouraging passages into a complete performance, while navigating an unusually severe shortage in defence.
Quick facts
- Atalanta travel to Amsterdam after losing at San Siro against Milan.
- The Bergamo club have won every Conference League match so far.
- Sarri said Atalanta need around 13 or 14 points to target direct progress and avoid the play-offs.
- Defensive absences have created the largest numerical injury problem Sarri has faced.
- Charles De Ketelaere is expected to be rested at some stage, despite Sarri’s belief in his exceptional potential.
The coach sees Ajax as a modern continuation of the club’s long technical tradition. He recalled studying their previous eras, as well as Johan Cruyff’s Barcelona, and said that work had left a lasting impression on him.
“Ajax have enormous technical quality,” Sarri said. “I expect a technical game, even if tactics will naturally play a part. I hope the more technical team on the night will be Atalanta.”
He rejected any suggestion that the fixture can already be treated as a final. The league phase has only begun, Sarri noted, and there are several rounds to negotiate before such comparisons can carry weight. Ajax’s history commands respect, but Atalanta’s immediate concern is the next match and building enough points for a smoother route through the competition.
Atalanta’s recent performances have given Sarri reasons both for frustration and optimism. He said the team have repeatedly produced 30 or 40 minutes of very high-level football, but have not sustained that standard either across matches or within the same 90 minutes.
The Milan match reflected that unevenness. Bellanova felt Atalanta played very well after the interval, yet accepted that the side still need time before they can impose themselves for an entire game.
Sarri said the current group has endured unusual match patterns, including two recent games in which goals arrived after a minute and another where the first half fell below expectations. In his view, these flashes remain a platform rather than proof that the new cycle is complete.
“Changing things and beginning a new cycle cannot be done in two or three months,” he said. “I expected difficulties. A first year always brings them.”
The most immediate complication is at the back. Sarri called the defensive injury situation unprecedented in numerical terms, but insisted the focus must stay on the players available for Amsterdam.
Davide Zappacosta could provide an experienced option in the middle of defence, though Sarri acknowledged that his lack of size and physical presence may become an issue inside the penalty area. He declined to reveal his line-up, saying he would not disclose it even under torture.
Bellanova jokingly suggested that Zappacosta should play centrally instead of him, but made clear he would accept any role requested by the coach. The wing-back said he initially feared the tactical adjustment after arriving for pre-season, but now feels more comfortable in a back four than in a five-man defensive line.
“The coach trusted me from the start,” Bellanova said. “I came into the summer camp wanting to work, give everything and show that I could play in a four. Everyone is giving their maximum; some players get there sooner than others.”
De Ketelaere’s form also remains a theme around the side. Sarri believes the Belgian has immense ability, perhaps more than the player himself recognises, but said he is currently in a normal rather than exceptional spell.
The coach said De Ketelaere will need a rest eventually, like every member of the squad. Rather than increase pressure, Sarri wants the club and team to support a player he believes can become decisive again.
Sarri also dismissed the idea that Italian football and European competition demand fundamentally different approaches. Good football works in any setting, he said, while adding that his own preference is for a possession-based team.
Bellanova refused to accept the label of favourites for the competition. European evenings can bring unpredictable results, he said, and Atalanta must judge themselves game by game, beginning with the attempt to win in Amsterdam.
He reserved particular praise for the travelling supporters, recalling their applause after last season’s defeat to Bayern as a moment that felt almost like a victory. Many more will make the journey to the Netherlands, and Atalanta hope their unbeaten European run can give them the result that follows the backing they have received.
