UECL: General Manager Marino and coach Sarri react to the Monaco draw

Following the draw for the 2026/27 UEFA Conference League League Phase, here are the first reactions from the Nerazzurri camp, with General Manager Institutional Affairs Umberto Marino and head coach Maurizio Sarri sharing their thoughts.

Speaking from the Grimaldi Forum, where he represented the Club, General Manager Marino commented on the Monaco draw: “First and foremost, it is a source of pride for the Club and the city of Bergamo to be in Europe. We faced a tough opponent in the play-offs and now we have another challenge ahead of us that we want to honour. We must not underestimate anyone because every team that makes it into Europe has shown they have what it takes to compete at this level. We will approach this competition with humility, determination and the Atalanta spirit, which is rooted in a strong work ethic. Atalanta and our fans have become accustomed to competing in Europe over the past ten years. It would therefore have been a real shame not to be part of the League Phase.”

Head coach Maurizio Sarri then assessed the European path awaiting the Nerazzurri: “The play-offs showed that the level of this competition has risen, and that means we need to be extremely careful. We have a prestigious away trip to Amsterdam to face Ajax. We will also come up against Pafos, a team that gained valuable Champions League experience last season, as well as several other interesting sides, all of whom we will need to study carefully because there are always potential pitfalls around the corner. This is a competition that means a lot to everyone: the Club, the team and our fans. We therefore want to approach it with great determination and try to go as far as possible.”