Collecchio, 22 November 2024 - Head Coach Fabio Pecchia shared his thoughts ahead of Matchday 13 against Atalanta during the press conference, given in the press room of the Mutti Training Centre in Collecchio.

THE PAUSE WITH THE INTERNATIONAL PLAYERS

'As with the other international breaks, some players came back exhausted. Today (Friday) we were back all together on the pitch and it went well. The International Break is a problem for all coaches managing at top Club, and I am the head coach at a top Club. Obviously, during this period, the main worry was not having the International players, but we've been organised in recent years. With Suzuki we still have a day of work, to rest up and evaluate everything. Leo is ready and there is also Edo. Estévez is the only one who stayed here. Anas came back first, Keita was the final one to return. This is the general situation when it comes to players going off on International duty'.

A CLASH AGAINST A TOP TEAM

'Hernani isn't in the group, but will be back soon. If we think about the physical side of things, the match will be difficult have a strong physical presence, but they're not just a physical side, they're technically gifted and have quality players. We have to make the most of our qualities and our style of play with intelligence. For us, it is a match in which we will play a top team, not just at Italian level but also European. What secret would I take from Gasperini? To spend nine years at a club and win. We have to congratulate them because they've worked really well'.

PLAYING AT SPEED

'When you played against teams like Atalanta there are phases when you're restricted and under pressure, we will have to manage this with great awareness and know how to act in these moments. For Saturday, it'll be important to develop our plays even more quickly than we know how to do and trust in our qualities. Everyone is watching Atalanta, it's the product of the work of a great coach. From our end, we need to have the desire to play teams like this, they will raise the rhythm and we need to be able to adjust to this. We will always need to be in the game maintaining tactical and mental balance and living in the moment of the game. And then, when the moment comes, we will have to push against the opponent, with strength and the desire to go and score'.

NEW SOLUTIONS

'Bernabé won't be there, but the team will need to find balance alongside individual characteristics. Playing with Bernabé and Sohm is a certain type of game, but playing with Estévez and Keita is different. This doesn't mean that we are going to lose balance. We are looking for new solutions and from time to time we have to correct ourselves and defend more zonally rather than man to man'.

THERE'S ALWAYS THE RISK OF HURTING OURSELVES

'Preparing for matches is easy from a mental point of view, from a technical and tactical point of view there's always the risk of hurting yourself when you find yourself against an opponent like Atalanta, who have refined their play over a number of years. Is facing Atalanta like going to the dentist? There's always the risk of pain, but it can also be painless at times'.

THE EX NERAZZURRI DELPRATO AND MIHAILA 

'Maybe it will give them more impetus: for Enrico, I think it's a great sense of satisfaction, for Valentin, he was in Bergamo in a particular moment in his career. Let's hope they show their worth...'.