The Bergamo club, third in Serie A for
the second consecutive season, feel
they have unfinished business in the
Champions League. Last term, in their
first-ever adventure in the European big
league, they surpassed all expectations
by reaching the last eight and were
indeed within a couple of minutes of
knocking out PSG, tragically conceding
twice at the death after leading1-0.
Atalanta is a club apart in today’s
corporate football world. Located in
Lombardy, theirs is a Cinderella story, the
tale of an organisation which prefers to
grow organically, picking up inexpensive
talent from wherever they can and
nurturing youngsters in their prolific
academy. Club president Antonio
Percassi thinks they currently have five
or six youngsters ready to make the
transition from youth team to the pro
squad. This summer, they were typically
prudent, limiting their outlay on fresh
faces to€7 million on young Dutch
centre-forward Sam Lammers and
Much water has passed under the bridge
since Ajax dazzled en route to the last
four of the 2018-19 Champions League,
stylishly seeing off Real Madrid and
Juventus before throwing away their
semi-final confrontation with Tottenham.
Centre-back Matthijs de Ligt and midfield
strategist Frenkie deJong exited stage left
immediately, while two other members
of their attacking-third “Dream Team”,
Donny van de Beek and Hakim Ziyech
departed this summer. However a new
crop of talent is always waiting in the
wings in Amsterdam, and in midfielder
Ryan Gravenberch, centre-back Perr
Schuurs and Burkino Faso striker Lassina
Traore, they have a real next generation
of quality ready to earn their stripes.
Forever searching the globe for young
talent, the Ajax management is justifiably
excited about two of their latest signings.
20-year-old Brazilian right-winger Antony
(ex-Sao Paulo) and precocious Ghanaian
attacking midfielder Mohammed Kudus –
picked up from Danish side Nordsjaelland
ATALANTA
Everyone’s second team to go again
- are brimming over with potential and
seem sure to figure prominently in the
plans of first-team coach Erik ten Hag.
Ten Hag has a score to settle in Europe.
He believes his team would have qualified
from last season’s group phase if VAR and
refereeing decisions had not gone against
them in matches v Chelsea (a1-0 home
loss and 4-4 draw at Stamford Bridge).
In welcome news, Dutch international
centre-back Daley Blind has recovered
from a pre-season heart scare.
Can Ajax cope without Sergino Dest?
Absolutely. They already have a fine
right-back in the shape of Moroccan
Noussair Mazraoui. The 22-year-old was
an attacking midfielder during his time at
theAjaciedacademy and how it shows
in his bold, creative full-back play.Who will lead the line this term?
Ten Hag has been experimenting with
Moroccan international Zakaria Labyad
in the role of centre-forward. Normally,
free-kick expert Labyad plays out wide or
as an attacking midfielder. Up-and-coming
west African Traore is another option, as
is veteran striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar.Where is competition the hottest?
On the right wing, where two Brazilians,
David Neres and new boy Antony will do
battle for the favours of Ten Hag. Antony,
an electrifying bundle of tricks and goal
threat, has looked the part so far, while
Neres is slowly being re-introduced
following a long-term knee injury.€14.5 million on Lokomotiv Moscow and
Russia playmaker Aleksey Miranchuk.
Impressive Belgian full-back Timothy
Castagne left for Leicester City.
Importantly for a city which has
suffered terribly in the last few months
with coronavirus, Atalanta will be hosting
Champions League games for the first
time this autumn. Because of renovation
work at their Gewiss Stadium, they had
to play European games 50km away at
Milan’s San Siro last season.AJAX
Next crop of youngsters ripe and ready
Gomez...Serie A’s
best midfielder
in 2019-20COACH
Erik ten Hag
Progressive boss for
whom positional
changes and clever
useoftheflanksare
paramount. Spent
two years (2013-15)
in charge of Bayern
Munich’s reserves.
KEYMAN
Dusan Tadic
Cultured Serbia
international capable
of supplying goals
and assists from any
position in the front
line or as a central
playmaker. Club
captain.
YOUNGSTER
TO WATCH
Perr Schuurs
Technically excellent
central defender in
his first season as an
automatic starter.
Recently earned his
first Dutch national
team call-up.COACH
Gian Piero
Gasperini
A bold, innovative
thinker, the ex-Juve
youth-team player
has worked a minor
miracle transforming
Atalanta from
relegation candidates
into a Serie A and
European force.
KEYMAN
Papu Gomez
Gasperini describes
the Argentine as the
“soul of the team”.
The number ten or
second striker is the
side’s technical
heartbeat.
YOUNGSTER
TO WATCH
Jacopo Da Riva
Enterprising, teenage
midfielder, who in
only his second game
with the pros, came
on as a sub in last
season’s loss to PSG.Ajax’s next big
thing...SchuursUEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE2020-21
The dark horses
What makes Atalanta so entertaining?
The intensity of their movement, sense
of adventure, taste for the jugular and
sheer love of risk taking. They flood the
opposition box with runners and when
piling forward, are never afraid to leave
the back door open. There’s no fear here.Is their style a double-edged sword?
Yes, of course. There were unmistakable
signs towards the back-end of last term
that they were running out of puff, thus
rendering themselves much weaker
defensively. They can only hope that
they had enough rest during the
off-season to recharge their batteries.What has happened to Josip Ilicic?
For several months Ilicic has completely
disappeared. The only comment from
the club was that his absence was due
to “personal reasons”. Some say he may
be suffering from depression. Whatever
has occurred, all of his team-mates
are pulling for the 32-year-old.