Atalanta director Luca Percassi aims to ‘keep growing’ next season in the Champions League after their PSG defeat, ‘but never forget who we are.’
La Dea had come so close to the semi-finals, leading Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 at the 89th minute, but were beaten 2-1 in stoppages.
“We are proud of all these lads have done throughout the season,” director Percassi told Sky Sport Italia.
Atalanta director Luca Percassi aims to ‘keep growing’ next season in the Champions League after their PSG defeat, ‘but never forget who we are.’
La Dea had come so close to the semi-finals, leading Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 at the 89th minute, but were beaten 2-1 in stoppages.
“We are proud of all these lads have done throughout the season,” director Percassi told Sky Sport Italia.
“The performance was in an extraordinary context for us. Obviously, losing like this leaves many regrets, but we must also be happy to have played such a great game against one of the best teams in Europe.
“We are enormously proud to have represented our city in the best way and to have made our fans happy for such a long debut Champions League adventure.”
They’ll be back in it for the 2020-21 campaign, having finished third in Serie A for the second year in a row.
“Atalanta are in the Champions League for the second year in a row, the second season ever. We know where we come from, this competition helps us to grow so much, challenge the best in the world, and being in it again makes us so proud,” continued Percassi.
“We’re working to ensure the stadium in Bergamo can be used in the Champions League. We’ll work hard to make sure Atalanta keep growing, but never forget our roots or who we are. Now we want to play a European competition in our own home.
“Our progress has not been a fluke, it has been a constant growth and we intend to keep that process going. Football is meritocracy. We see a lot of small-medium clubs in Italy working in this direction and we hope that there can be more following our journey in future, because otherwise it does get boring seeing the same old teams always up there.”