Atalanta captain Papu Gomez enjoyed ‘a wonderful game of football’ in the 2-2 draw with Ajax and joked about his grumpiness at being substituted.
Duvan Zapata’s brace completed the comeback from 2-0 down in Bergamo, the first ever Champions League match played at the Gewiss Stadium.
“We feel very proud to have brought this club and this city into the Champions League,” the captain told Sky Sport Italia.
Atalanta captain Papu Gomez enjoyed ‘a wonderful game of football’ in the 2-2 draw with Ajax and joked about his grumpiness at being substituted.
Duvan Zapata’s brace completed the comeback from 2-0 down in Bergamo, the first ever Champions League match played at the Gewiss Stadium.
“We feel very proud to have brought this club and this city into the Champions League,” the captain told Sky Sport Italia.
“It was a wonderful game of football. With teams of this level, you’re going to deal with a strong attack, but the good thing is that they leave spaces and we like to attack too. I focused more on staying closer to the forwards than tracking back this time.”
Papu was visibly displeased at being substituted with Josip Ilicic to bring on Luis Muriel and Ruslan Malinovskyi after 78 minutes.
“We were at 2-2 and it’s only natural I wanted to keep playing, but that’s normal! I was a little cross because these are the games I love and when we can feel the turnaround to win it, we want to push. It’s also in these situations that you realise the level of the competition.
“My teammates had the same desire to play that I did, so I shake their hands when I come off, but anyone who has been a player knows you always want to play.
“I am the captain and the Number 10, if I don’t get annoyed, then who will?!” he joked.
Gomez had provided the assist for Duvan Zapata’s header to make it 1-2, floating a ball immediately to the back stick.
“If I had tried to control the ball, I would’ve lost precious time. I saw Duvan and realised I had to put it to the back post. It was an odd ball, it was turning away from me, but I had no choice, I had to get it done quickly or they’d close us down.”