Atalanta President Antonio Percassi wrote an open letter to the squad and fans after their historic Champions League success. “It’s a dream, dedicated to the doctors and nurses of Bergamo.”
La Dea are in their first ever Champions League campaign, yet thrashed Valencia 8-4 on aggregate to reach the quarter-finals.
“I’m proud… Of what our team and our coach have deservedly achieved on the pitch: Atalanta are among Europe’s best eight teams… It’s a dream,” wrote Percassi on the club website.
Atalanta President Antonio Percassi wrote an open letter to the squad and fans after their historic Champions League success. “It’s a dream, dedicated to the doctors and nurses of Bergamo.”
La Dea are in their first ever Champions League campaign, yet thrashed Valencia 8-4 on aggregate to reach the quarter-finals.
“I’m proud… Of what our team and our coach have deservedly achieved on the pitch: Atalanta are among Europe’s best eight teams… It’s a dream,” wrote Percassi on the club website.
“Determination, belief, quality, together with humility, intelligence and stubbornness let them replicate at the Mestalla what we had already seen against Valencia at the Meazza in the first leg. I suffered, because in a Champions League match nothing is decided, but in the end, it’s been an immense joy.”
The second leg game, a 4-3 Atalanta victory, was played behind closed doors in Valencia due to the Coronavirus outbreak.
“We were so many in front of the TV last night: the team, the coach, the staff, the managers were aware of the responsibility they had. And they’ve all been amazing. They gifted us two hours of entertainment and joy,” continued the President.
“They gifted them to Bergamo and Italy in such a difficult and delicate moment due to a horrific virus that is shaking our lives.
“The team won. It was a win openly dedicated to Bergamo, as evidence of how strong it is the bond with the city, the province and all Bergamaschi. This win is dedicated to all the doctors and nurses that are incessantly providing their knowledge and work, to those who are suffering because of this virus…”
Straight after the game, Atalanta released a statement urging their supporters not to break the curfew by gathering in the city streets to celebrate, nor greeting the squad as it returned to the airport.
“I’m proud… Of our supporters, finally: they were an example of fairness last night, as they followed the rules despite their desire to welcome the team as they would have deserved, but it was not possible. They have always been an example of generosity.”