Maurizio Sarri tries to prepare Atalanta for a tense Conference League play-off against Hapoel Tel-Aviv, warning he won’t reveal his ‘private’ views on the fixture against an Israeli team.
The first leg kicks off at the New Balance Arena in Bergamo on Thursday at 19.30 UK time (20.30 CEST).
Sarri tries to keep Atalanta focused
Inevitably, there will be an extraordinary level of security put in place for this event, with circa 1,000 visiting fans expected to attend in the stands.
There will be extra checks on anyone entering the stadium, including a ban on Palestinian flags or banners that could spark tension.
Nonetheless, a protest has been scheduled at 17.00 UK time (18.00 CEST) in Bergamo.
When Sarri was pressed on the calls for Israel’s club sides to be excluded in much the same way Russian teams are from UEFA competition, he tried to be diplomatic.
“I am here as a representative of a club, and as a professional, I must face every game that we are scheduled to play with the objective of victory,” said Sarri in his press conference.
“This is the attitude of a professional. If you want to ask me my private thoughts on the matter, then you’ll have to ask me in private.
“Hapoel Tel-Aviv are a tough team, they had some very dangerous counter-attacks in the preliminary rounds so far, and are better than many people might suggest.
“Historically, preliminary rounds have always been tricky for Italian sides, so we had to prepare in a different way for this test. We must try to be aware of our capabilities.”
Charles De Ketelare and Honest Ahanor are still out after pre-season injuries, but hope to be ready for the Serie A opener this weekend against Sassuolo.
Kamaldeen Sulemana has a more long-term issue and won’t be back for a couple of months.
