Edy Reja is ready for his Atalanta debut against Parma, but is concerned the atmosphere around this game is dangerous.
It kicks off on Sunday at 14.00 GMT, click here for a match preview.
This will be Parma’s first game in almost a month, as their last two Serie A fixtures were called off due to the financial crisis.
“I never had to prepare for a match where I didn’t know if it was going to be played or not,” confessed Reja in his Press conference.
Edy Reja is ready for his Atalanta debut against Parma, but is concerned the atmosphere around this game is dangerous.
It kicks off on Sunday at 14.00 GMT, click here for a match preview.
This will be Parma’s first game in almost a month, as their last two Serie A fixtures were called off due to the financial crisis.
“I never had to prepare for a match where I didn’t know if it was going to be played or not,” confessed Reja in his Press conference.
“We did the work, we know their characteristics and we are ready. It will be difficult and we show solidarity towards the Parma players during this time.
“They will certainly step on to the pitch eager to show what they can do and won’t risk lowering their guard.”
It’s an unknown quantity for Atalanta too, as Reja took over from sacked Coach Stefano Colantuono this week.
“I haven’t known my players long and we have it all to lose. These are the toughest games, because people seem to assume Atalanta are going to beat Parma.
“The whole situation will fire them up, not to mention the quality players in their squad. My lads are hungry too and it’s important to get on track straight away, as safety is earned one game at a time.
“I am particularly tense, as a difficult task awaits me. I’d been away from football for a while, but I’ve been working in this world for 50 years. When you stop at first it feels good to relax, then as time goes on that hunger returns.”
Ex-Lazio Coach Reja did not hesitate in making changes to Colantuono’s team.
“Instead of playing with four midfielders, we are going to three plus three strikers. Atalanta always played with two forwards, but I don’t like that system much.
“Only one out of Mauricio Pinilla and German Denis will start. It would’ve been great to have Maxi Moralez behind a main striker, but for now we’ll play 4-3-3.
“There’s a lot of competition for places, as Denis, Pinilla, Rolando Bianchi and Rosseti are all challenging for one spot, whereas I see Richmond Boakye as more of a wide man.”