Atalanta begin their Conference League campaign with Maurizio Sarri asking his side to put humility before reputation. Pafos arrive at the New Balance Arena on Thursday 15 October, with kick-off set for 21:00, and the coach has made clear that neither rankings nor past trophies will decide the opening night.
A European start amid a crowded calendar
- Sarri addressed the effects of a compressed programme before the first Conference League matchday. With three games packed into six days, he said modern football leaves little time for coaches and players to adjust between fixtures.
- The Atalanta coach admitted that such a rhythm is not particularly appealing to him, echoing the frustrations often voiced from the terraces. Even so, he said the group must arrive as prepared as possible for Pafos.
- Selection will remain open until close to the game, with Sarri determined to keep the widest possible group involved. He also pointed to a run of nine matches in 26 days as the reason competition for places in attack is an ordinary part of the season rather than a fixed hierarchy.
- On the team’s shape, Sarri said Atalanta have two possible systems available. The choice may change from match to match and could also alter during the same contest.
Pafos command respect
Sarri rejected any suggestion that Atalanta should look beyond the Cypriot side or consider goal difference before the match has even started. In his view, thinking about the margin of victory would mean treating the result as already settled.
He described Pafos as a capable team with significant technical quality, particularly among Brazilian and Portuguese players comfortable in possession. Sarri believes the standard of clubs outside the traditional elite has risen sharply, both in Italy and across Europe, making preparation and respect essential.
Atalanta may be regarded as one of the stronger names in the competition, but Sarri dismissed the relevance of that status. Rankings, he said, are built on what has happened previously and carry no weight once the current campaign begins.
Squad management and familiar faces
Marco Carnesecchi sat alongside Sarri at the pre-match media duties, prompting the coach to joke that the difficulty is that he cannot deploy the goalkeeper in midfield. Behind the humour was a firm assessment: Sarri sees Carnesecchi as a player of personality, broad shoulders and the potential to make a decisive impact. The responsibility, he said, is a motivation rather than a burden for the goalkeeper.
Atalanta are also likely to be without Giorgio Scalvini for longer than one European evening. Sarri said the defender is not dealing with a serious injury, but needs several days of rest and will probably miss the Milan match as well. The coach’s response is to lean on the players currently available and give more members of the squad meaningful minutes.
The Pafos meeting also brings Sarri back into opposition with David Luiz, eight years after their time together at Chelsea. Sarri spoke warmly of the Brazilian, calling him an outstanding player and a person of great human stature. He added that David Luiz’s enduring connection with football made his long playing career no surprise.
For Atalanta, the Conference League begins not with a promise of an easy night, but with a test of concentration in a demanding October schedule. Sarri’s message is straightforward: use the squad, respect the opponent and let the pitch, rather than the ranking, establish the balance of the tie.
