Roberto De Zerbi confirms he is ready to sign a contract extension with Sassuolo, but only if they learn from Atalanta. ‘We cannot change another nine players.’
La Dea won 4-1 in the rescheduled Week 25 Serie A fixture, although there could’ve been even more goals in a very entertaining encounter.
“Atalanta should be taken as an example, as today once again they proved they are a great side in Italy and in Europe,” De Zerbi told Sky Sport Italia.
Roberto De Zerbi confirms he is ready to sign a contract extension with Sassuolo, but only if they learn from Atalanta. ‘We cannot change another nine players.’
La Dea won 4-1 in the rescheduled Week 25 Serie A fixture, although there could’ve been even more goals in a very entertaining encounter.
“Atalanta should be taken as an example, as today once again they proved they are a great side in Italy and in Europe,” De Zerbi told Sky Sport Italia.
“We should’ve been more courageous, because if we want to grow and get stronger, we have to stand up to the best, and today Atalanta are one of the best.
“Unfortunately, we conceded goals that were infuriating, but did create arguably more chances than them. It’s a positive that I take from Bergamo, but the negative is that we wasted so many opportunities.
“It’s no mean feat to come here with four strikers in the starting XI. I didn’t do it as a suicidal tactic, but to show my team that I wanted to take the initiative and control the game.
“I want to teach these lads something. Not all of them train as if playing matches, so on some days they lack the right attitude. When we reach the matchday without making mistakes, that will be the moment this team has matured.”
De Zerbi hopes to continue being the Sassuolo coach with a new contract, although he also has a warning for the club.
“I have always wanted to stay, because I am happy here and we have real margins for improvement. However, I hide nothing. We cannot change another nine players, otherwise we’ll be going backwards and not forwards.
“I am very ambitious, but I don’t want to say too much, nor too little. We have a lot of quality, but must learn from Atalanta’s courage and identity. They lost their opening Champions League game 4-0 in Zagreb, but kept pushing and qualified for the quarter-finals. That is to their great credit.”