Sarri: ‘Atalanta are ambitious, but we can’t underestimate Parma’

Maurizio Sarri insists Atalanta are aiming to build “a new, great cycle”, but he warned his side not to underestimate Parma, despite their position near the bottom of Serie A.

With quotes via TuttoMercatoWeb, the coach spoke at Zingonia before Monday’s game at the New Balance Arena, which kicks off at 20:45 CET [19:45 GMT].

“We’re ambitious and we want to build the foundations for a new, great cycle,” Sarri said. “It’s not an easy path, starting again after another high-level cycle, and it’s getting more complicated with the injuries. But our desire is to have a great cycle like the one before.”

Atalanta are 11th on 11 points. Their last home game was a chaotic 4-4 draw with Frosinone, after which they were whistled off by their own fans. They followed it with a draw at Fiorentina on Thursday.

Sarri’s squad is badly stretched: Raoul Bellanova, Gianluca Scamacca, Franck Kessié, Sead Kolašinac, Isak Hien, Odilon Kossounou and Giacomo Raspadori are all out. Kristensen was injured early on in Florence.

“The fans whistled at the end out of disappointment after the draw, but they helped us for 95 minutes,” Sarri said. “We need the support of our people, and I’m convinced they’ll give us a big hand.”

Atalanta coach Sarri wary of Parma threat

Parma are 18th on five points after Wednesday’s 0-0 draw with Udinese, but Sarri is wary of Alberto Gilardino’s side.

“Parma are one of those teams near the bottom who have conceded fewer goals. It’s certainly not an easy game,” he said. “It will be the usual battle, where we need to go out humble and, above all, clear-headed, ready for any difficulty.

Sarri also defended his side’s fitness levels and called for more balance. “Our running volume is high. Against Frosinone, we had 41 minutes of effective playing time compared with our average of 59, and in 18 minutes less we produced the same numbers as in other games,” he said. “On the injuries, we’ll assess them. I hope to get someone back sooner, because three games in six days is a lot.

“The team needs to be shorter and more compact, less open when opponents come forward. We also need a higher defensive line. At the back, everything has been turned upside down because so many different players have played there.”