President Antonio Percassi can see ‘sleepless nights’ for Atalanta when facing Liverpool and Ajax in the Champions League, especially as they can now play in Bergamo.
La Dea reached the quarter-finals in their first ever Champions League adventure and were within minutes of knocking out eventual finalists PSG.
Now they have been placed in a group with Liverpool, Ajax and Danes Midtjylland.
President Antonio Percassi can see ‘sleepless nights’ for Atalanta when facing Liverpool and Ajax in the Champions League, especially as they can now play in Bergamo.
La Dea reached the quarter-finals in their first ever Champions League adventure and were within minutes of knocking out eventual finalists PSG.
Now they have been placed in a group with Liverpool, Ajax and Danes Midtjylland.
“It’s if anything an even more exciting event, because repeating what we achieved last year would be fantastic, unimaginable,” Percassi told the club website.
“We are honoured and proud to be in the Champions League for the second time and hope to make a good impression.”
It’s a tough draw, but one that will certainly bring more neutral fans towards Atalanta, as all these teams are attack-minded.
On top of that, unlike last year when they played their home matches at San Siro in Milan, Atalanta can open up the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo for UEFA fixtures.
“It’s enough to give you sleepless nights. They are tough teams with an incredible history and if we think that we’ll have Liverpool and Ajax playing in Bergamo, it’s going to be so exciting,” continued Percassi.
“Hopefully, the fans will be able to attend too. These are important matches against teams that play excellent football, but if we play the way we know and the way we have been recently, they’re going to be very entertaining games.
“I said last season it was like going to the University of Football and that’s more true now than ever. We hope to get past the first round.
“Our main focus has to be Serie A, where we’ve started strong and the sensations are positive. Never mind those who talk about the Scudetto, our primary objective is to secure Serie A safety, then anything else is a bonus. We have to keep our feet on the ground, with the same spirit and mentality as always.”