Juric: ‘Hope Atalanta can be more clinical in final third’
Atalanta coach Ivan Juric explains his tactical choices in the Champions League against Slavia Prague. ‘Hopefully we can be more clinical in the final third.’
It kicks off in Bergamo at 20.00 UK time (19.00 GMT).
While they are one of only two teams still unbeaten in Europe’s top five leagues this season, along with Bayern Munich, most of those have been stalemates.
Ademola Lookman had his first start against Lazio at the weekend since going AWOL in the summer, and he is again backed this evening, but behind centre-forward Nikola Krstovic.
Juric throws on fresh Atalanta strikers
“We’ve had good performances recently and lacked goals, but hopefully we can be more clinical in the final third today,” Juric told Sky Sport Italia.
A surprise is that Nicola Zalewski again sits on the bench, with Italy Under-21 international Lorenzo Bernasconi given the nod again instead.
“Bernasconi is coming from the Under-23 team, is doing very well, and earned this opportunity to play,” assured Juric.
“We are on the right path. As we saw last night, Champions League football is very different to Serie A, there are teams brimming with confidence who play with different concepts and tactical ideas.”
Although his results have so far not been quite as strong, Juric is a devotee of former Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini, and received a warm welcome from the fans who needed to adjust after nine years of a single boss.
“I received love and affection from the fans straight away, so I can only hope that I prove myself worthy enough to earn that in the long-term,” noted Juric.