Maurizio Sarri commended Franck Kessie’s character after the midfielder found the net in Atalanta’s 3-1 win against Venezia, which brought an end to a three-match losing sequence for the side. The Ivorian broke the deadlock before Nikola Krstovic added two more goals, handing Atalanta a strong cushion within the first thirty minutes.
Kessie, who rejoined Atalanta during the summer after five campaigns with Milan earlier in his career, also spoke about a possible return to San Siro. In his post-match remarks, the midfielder made clear he would be prepared for such an occasion.
Sarri commends Kessie’s character and impact
During his post-match media briefing at the New Balance Arena, Sarri stressed Kessie’s value to the squad, noting attributes that go well beyond what he delivers on the field.
“He’s a lad with great personality, and you could see that on the pitch. Lads like that are rare, and that’s an important detail in the dressing room,” the Atalanta coach said, with his comments reported by TuttoMercatoWeb.
Kessie, for his part, emphasised the significance of halting the losing run rather than dwelling on his own contribution. He recognised the challenges of adjusting to a new system but underlined the importance of carrying out the coach’s directions and giving maximum effort for the side.
“It’s always nice to score, but for me the team matters,” he told DAZN. The midfielder also shared his happiness for Krstovic, whose two goals could assist the forward in gaining belief.
When questioned about going back to San Siro, Kessie offered a short and assured reply: “Always ready.”
Atalanta’s second-half display worries Sarri
Even with the solid outcome, Sarri was not completely pleased with Atalanta’s performance. His side dictated the first period and built a three-goal advantage, yet the coach believed they surrendered control of the match after the break.
“In the second half we stopped pressing them in their half, and at certain moments we paid for it,” Sarri clarified. He further criticised the team’s play from the back, stating they were sloppy when building out and permitted Venezia to seize the initiative.
The coach was also dissatisfied with Atalanta’s execution in the final phases, though he did not view the display as weak as it may have seemed. Curiously, he thought the side grew more energetic following the dismissal.
“We need to be braver,” Sarri continued, pointing to increased courage and command as areas to address before the team’s upcoming match.
Elmas’s red card and Atalanta injury worries
Eljif Elmas was dismissed late in the game after VAR elevated his yellow card following a rash tackle. The sending-off means the midfielder will be unavailable for Sunday’s journey to Milan, a notable loss as Atalanta readies itself for the San Siro clash.
Sarri made scant effort to justify the call, implying Elmas could have sidestepped the challenge entirely. The episode deepened the coach’s worries after Raoul Bellanova and Giorgio Scalvini were both withdrawn midway through the second half.
Bellanova was dealing with discomfort in his glute, while Scalvini’s situation still needed evaluation. Sarri did not give a conclusive update on either player’s fitness.
The coach will consequently need to track the situation as Atalanta enters a demanding stretch of matches, with their next engagement coming against Pafos in the Conference League on Thursday.
Sarri discusses Atalanta’s setup and selection decisions
Sarri opened the match with a 4-2-3-1 shape, picking Krstovic over Gianluca Scamacca. Atalanta afterwards reverted to their usual 4-3-3 system, with the coach calling the initial arrangement an alternative option for the team.
He clarified that the choice to field Krstovic stemmed from a wish for more attacking depth, while Elmas was picked to add further balance. The forward validated his selection by netting twice in the first half.
Sarri also evaluated Jonathan Rowe’s showing, complimenting his input during the first hour but noting the winger still has significant space to grow.
“He did well for 60 minutes, then faded. In my opinion, he has a lot of room for improvement,” the coach said.
With Pafos up next, Sarri wants Atalanta to replicate the approach they displayed before the interval and retain control for extended spells. He also noted that the scoreline shaped his substitution strategy, explaining he would have made multiple changes had his team stretched the lead to 4-1.
The task now is to bring that first-half intensity into Thursday’s European tie while fixing the lapses that let Venezia back into the contest.
Stade Bollaert-Delelis
By Anna Italia
