U23s, Salvatore Bocchetti: "A big result for us"

Speaking after the win over Casarano, Salvatore Bocchetti commented as follows: "the lads came out strong, exactly as I'd asked them to go during the week. We knew it wouldn't be easy to play here -we're well aware of Casarano's quality. It was important to put in a focused, disciplined performance and create the right space to attack. I have to congratulate the team: they deserved it for all the hard work they're dialling in. I'm very happy with both the performance and the result".

"At half-time I told the team we needed to step it up and try to kill the game off as soon as possible. They're youngsters and they still lack the malice to manage certain situations; in fact, given the chances we created, the match sjould have been wrapped up earlier. That's the only aspect I'm not completely satisfied with, because otherwise you risk making life difficult for yourself. There are so many players in this squad with real potential. My job is to help them grow, with the aim of getting them ready for the first team. They have to grow first as men and then as footballers, that’s part of Atalanta’s DNA, as the club’s history shows”.

“We’re happy to have taken all six points from our two games against Casarano. In a league like this, with such a young squad, every point is crucial, so we have to fight for everything in every match. In my view, Group C is the toughest of the three in Serie C: there are strong teams, quality players and clubs that invest heavily. For us, that’s extra motivation to keep improving. Now our focus is on staying in the division, it’s far from easy and we haven’t achieved anything yet, but the boys are proving they can hold their own”, the Nerazzurri coach concluded.