Atalanta beats Athletic Bilbao in Bortolotti Trophy
Atalanta, managed by Maurizio Sarri, narrowly defeated Athletic Bilbao in the Bortolotti Trophy, but the coach was critical of the transfer market. "The transfer market is boring, an insult to my profession," Sarri said. The Italian side played a tidy game, particularly in the first 20 minutes of the second half, which pleased the manager.
Sarri, known for his spectacular style at Napoli, strongly criticized the transfer market. "I’ve never been a market-driven coach, but rather a player-focused one. This gives me more satisfaction," he stated. He also called the transfer timing "an insult to coaches." However, he expressed confidence in the sporting director, describing him as "one of the most astute in Europe."
The coach also discussed the team’s transition after their winning streak. "It will be long and difficult, with moments of great difficulty. We’ll have to lower our heads and work," he explained. Defensively, he admitted they are not yet at the desired level but ruled out a dramatic situation in the early months of the season.
Atalanta is preparing for their first official match of the season on August 20 against Hapoel Tel Aviv. In attack, Sarri is considering Zalewski as an alternative to the injured Ketelaere and Solomon. The manager, who coached Napoli from 2015 to 2018, remains a reference for Neapolitan fans.
