Sarri pleased with Atalanta progress, but fury at ‘absurd’ fixture list

BERGAMO, ITALY - OCTOBER 15: Maurizio Sarri, Head Coach of Atalanta BC, looks on before the UEFA Conference League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 match between Atalanta BC and Pafos FC at Stadio di Bergamo on October 15, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Maurizio Sarri sees further Atalanta progress in their 3-1 Conference League win over Pafos, but is frustrated at another injury. ‘Players are subjected to an absurd calendar.’

La Dea had played two Conference League games in the preliminary round back in August, but this was the opening fixture of the tournament proper.

They had the perfect start, taking the lead against Cypriot side in the opening 50 seconds with Eljif Elmas.

Giacomo Raspadori then converted a penalty, sustaining an injury in the process, and Gianluca Scamacca completed the first half rout.

There was no clean sheet though, as they were caught napping late on by Biel for the final 3-1 result.

Sarri sees Atalanta improvement

“We started well, and unlike the game with Venezia where we had lots of chances and got disorganised, this evening we made better choices on when to be direct, when to keep possession, and allowed practically nothing until that late goal,” Sarri told Sky Sport Italia.

“There is the strong risk in these matches that the difference in quality between the squads doesn’t show, as Pafos lost 3-2 to Fiorentina last year and only narrowly lost to Juventus too. It is not to be taken for granted, so my side played well tonight.”

This is the second victory of the week for Atalanta, who beat Venezia 3-1 on Monday evening to end their run of three consecutive Serie A defeats.

Both that game and tonight’s had them switch Sarri’s traditional 4-3-3 formation to a 4-2-3-1 instead.

“We have found a way to be more dangerous in attack, now we need to seek greater balance and solidity too.”

Raspadori has reportedly suffered a relapse of the flexor issue that he had already sustained on international duty in September, adding to the long list of absentees with Giorgio Scalvini, Franck Kessie, Kamaldeen Sulemana, Isak Hien, Odilon Kossounou and Raoul Bellanova.

“There are too many muscular injuries for many players, not just with Atalanta. We ought to complain to UEFA and FIFA, because the players are subjected to an absurd calendar, it’s only logical that they will pay the consequences,” noted Sarri.

“Unfortunately, these are the risks, especially when players return from international duty. Scalvini got hurt on his return from international duty, this is the fixture list, I am frankly amazed the Players’ Association doesn’t stand up and protest.”

Atalanta were an unusual choice for Sarri, and vice versa, considering how very different his style is to predecessors Gian Piero Gasperini and Raffaele Palladino, so it was always going to be a long process of adaptation.

“The club is a model for anyone, I had never encountered a situation like this. Naturally, it came from many years with a completely different style of football, but the players are working hard. I hope they have significant margin for improvement.

“I honestly don’t know what we can achieve in the first year, but we have set a target for the medium-long term,” replied Sarri.