Mario Pasalic claims Atalanta have already shown they are “stronger” than Shakhtar Donetsk as he aims for a place in the Champions League last 16.
Atalanta need three points against Shakhtar next week if they are to continue their historic run in Europe’s elite club competition, and Pasalic is in a confident mood going into the game.
“Serie A and the Champions League,” he told the Gazzetta dello Sport when asked what his side were focusing on.
Mario Pasalic claims Atalanta have already shown they are “stronger” than Shakhtar Donetsk as he aims for a place in the Champions League last 16.
Atalanta need three points against Shakhtar next week if they are to continue their historic run in Europe’s elite club competition, and Pasalic is in a confident mood going into the game.
“Serie A and the Champions League,” he told the Gazzetta dello Sport when asked what his side were focusing on.
“But we aren’t looking beyond [Hellas] Verona and Shakhtar. We showed during the first game that we were stronger than Shakhtar, even though we lost the match.”
Manchester City also need to give the Dea a helping hand in their match against Dinamo Zagreb.
Despite that, the Chelsea loanee is not worrying too much about the result in the other match, adding his team would not mind dropping into the Europa League.
“The others [Man City and Dinamo] will think about the other match. We want the three points so as not to finish bottom. Let’s beat them and then we’ll see.
“The Europa League wouldn’t be a disappointment.”
Atalanta are currently sixth in Serie A and are preparing for a home match against Hellas Verona on Saturday.