Atalanta were due to face Milan at San Siro on 18 October at 17.00 UK time, with Atalanta director Cristiano Giuntoli saying the team are trying to build a clear identity under coach Maurizio Sarri. The match came with several injury concerns and a suspension in the squad.
Giuntoli on Atalanta's direction
Giuntoli told Sky Sport Italia: "We have a very deep squad with talented players, so we still maintain this is a competitive side."
He added: "We want to find a clear identity, the coach has a lot of experience and has evaluated some things, we tried the 4-3-3, the 4-2-3-1, but the attitude of the lads is ultimately the most important thing."
Giuntoli also said: "The result then can be dictated by many different variables, but that mentality has to be consistent."
He noted: "It is certainly a year where we need to find our identity."
Giuntoli said: "You can call it starting from scratch, Year Zero, a season of adjustment, but we started with play-offs in August for the Conference League, it has been a packed schedule and there hasn’t been much time to work in training."
Injuries and suspension
Giacomo Raspadori suffered a muscular strain in Thursday’s Conference League match.
Football Italia said Raspadori joined Franck Kessie, Giorgio Scalvini, Odilon Kossounou, Isak Hien and Kamaldeen Sulemana on the treatment table.
Giuntoli told Sky Sport Italia: "Unfortunately, many of the injuries are focused on the same area of the pitch, specifically in defence. We’re coming off two good victories and want to see consistency in the performances as well as the results."
Eljif Elmas was suspended on 18 October after his red card against Venezia.
Recent results and Samardzic comment
Football Italia said Atalanta beat both Venezia and Conference League opponents Pafos 3-1 in their last two matches.
Giuntoli said: "We’re coming off two victories, we had some bad results before, and it is a process."
Lazar Samardzic told Sky Sport Italia that they have "started playing the kind of football the coach wants to see."