Atalanta director general Umberto Marino celebrated “an historic moment” with the debut against Dinamo Zagreb, but “we are mature and ready for the Champions League.”
It kicks off in Zagreb at 20.00 UK time (19.00 GMT), click here for the line-ups and LIVEBLOG.
“It’s an historic moment for Atalanta and the city of Bergamo, so we hope to honour this tournament,” the director general told Sky Sport Italia.
Atalanta director general Umberto Marino celebrated “an historic moment” with the debut against Dinamo Zagreb, but “we are mature and ready for the Champions League.”
It kicks off in Zagreb at 20.00 UK time (19.00 GMT), click here for the line-ups and LIVEBLOG.
“It’s an historic moment for Atalanta and the city of Bergamo, so we hope to honour this tournament,” the director general told Sky Sport Italia.
“The squad is mature and knows what it’s doing. We prepared well for this game and are, in all honesty, very relaxed. We feel ready for the Champions League.
“One of the great things about football is meeting up again. The Dinamo Zagreb Coach Bjelica was working with me at Spezia and five or six years ago we reached the Serie B promotion play-offs, but unfortunately lost. I wish him all the best, starting from tomorrow!”
Over 3,000 fans have made the trip to Zagreb, although some of the special buses put on for the journey were held up at the border and arrived late.
“Atalanta is Bergamo and Bergamo is Atalanta, so the symbiosis is total and unique in Italy. There are over 3,000 fans here tonight and I hope there will be at least 30,000 at San Siro against Shakhtar Donetsk.”