Atalanta have gone into a training camp at Zingonia as they prepare to face Kairat Almaty in the Conference League, with the team hoping to regroup during a challenging period. The stay will continue until before Sunday’s league match against Monza, coached by former Atalanta manager Ivan Juric.
Sarri said the camp was intended to bring the squad back together and help them move past their current difficulties. Atalanta have taken one win and one defeat in their Conference League campaign so far, against Pafos and Ajax respectively, while their recent league form has included a 0-3 loss to Parma. They have conceded an average of three goals across their last three league games and have 11 points from 10 matches.
The coach said Atalanta had shown some of the play he wanted in the first half against Parma, but pointed to missed chances and defensive lapses. He also identified a lack of composure and response after conceding, saying the team had stopped believing once it fell behind. Sarri added that some players could take on a stronger leadership role, though they were not accustomed to doing so.
Midfielder Eljif Elmas defended Sarri, saying the players should help him rather than blame him. Elmas also highlighted the team’s tendency to concede after half-time.
Kairat Almaty have recently changed coaches, with youth-team manager Zhora Arutyunyan taking charge after Rafael Urazbakhtin’s departure. Arutyunyan said earning a point away to Atalanta would be a major achievement and described the Italian side as operating at Champions League level. He added that Atalanta’s defeat to Parma would not affect his team’s approach.
Sources: ANSA Sport.