Sassuolo coach Alessio Dionisi said the Neroverdi must be ‘technically better’ against Atalanta but stressed the Orobici are similar to Torino in their style of play.
The new coach has teething problems at the Mapei Stadium and Sassuolo have lost their last two games, against Roma and Torino.
“We were not the dominant team from start to finish,” Dionisi said at a press conference. “We played according to their characteristics; we shouldn’t have.
“It’s not easy. It won’t be easy tomorrow against a team that has a similar idea to Torino, even if they are stronger. If we aren’t technically better, it will be difficult.”
Dionisi stressed the late goals conceded in the previous games are not coincidental but claimed all the teams need time to ‘acquire an identity’.
“I don’t believe in coincidences, it’s too early to make it happen, but we conceded three goals at the end and we have to pay attention until the end,” Dionisi continued.
“The games change in a moment, and we have already paid the price. Against Torino, in the last 10 minutes, in the others, in stoppages. It’s different.
“At the beginning, the values don’t emerge completely, at the beginning teams face each other in one way. Little by little, one acquires their own identity.
“After four games we are already talking about the championship when you can win or lose against anyone. In a while, it won’t be like this.
“There are values that are not well defined yet, soon they will be.”
Sassuolo have a poor record against Atalanta but Dionisi believes that’s because they give everyone difficulties.
“Torino are also a team that historically plagued Sassuolo and they did again,” he continued. “Atalanta give everyone difficulties. They are strong and it’s no coincidence that they do well in the Champions League and fight for the top places.
“We will go there knowing that we must do better than the previous game, having experience, because Atalanta and Torino have similar ideas, they play man-on-man, with different interpreters.
“On paper, it may seem like a defeat, but we can change the cards on the pitch. We have the qualities, above all technically, but not only, to make the game our own.”