Atalanta President Antonio Percassi admits substitutions made the difference in Manchester United’s 3-2 win over Atalanta: ‘Their three substitutes are worth as much as our entire team.’
The Red Devils recovered from two goals down against the Serie A side at Old Trafford on Wednesday.
Goals from Marcus Rashford, Harry Maguire and Cristiano Ronaldo helped the Premier League giants take all three points.
“It was a memorable game, we could have made history, haven’t we conceded the third goal,” Percassi told reporters during an event in Milan, as quoted by Tuttomercatoweb and Tuttoatalanta.
“It was a great experience that will make us grow. When we were 2-0 up, I thought: ‘It is a joke?’
“However, their three substitutes are worth as much as our entire team. We want to go beyond the group stage.
“Our first target is to avoid relegation, we’ll be happy whatever extra target we achieve.”
Antonio Percassi: "I tre cambi dello United valgono quasi come tutta la nostra rosa" https://t.co/Tq5GLgeu9X – https://t.co/dGa4Nc0cIU pic.twitter.com/V2tVeteXF7
— TuttoAtalanta.com (@tuttoatalanta) October 22, 2021
Atalanta have qualified for the Champions League over the last three seasons.
They were eliminated at the hands of PSG in the quarter-finals in 2019-20, while Real Madrid knocked them out of Europe’s elite competition in the Round of 16 last term.
Gian Piero Gasperini’s side are on even points with Villareal in the Champions League group F with four points each. Table leaders Manchester United have six.
Atalanta currently sit sixth in Serie A with 14 points in eight games.
La Dea host Udinese at the Dacia Arena on Sunday, while Manchester United travel to Bergamo for the reverse fixture on November 2.
Absolutely must beat Man U in Bergamo. Or at least a draw. Otherwise it may be curtain this year.