Just a few more hours of waiting and we will also see the fifth team involved in the new Champions League maxi group, Atalanta who will host Arsenal in their opening match.
Meanwhile, Wednesday saw the pre-match press conferences. The coach of the Goddess, Gian Piero Gasperini, has outlined the path: “The goal is to stay in, it will be difficult to get into the top eight. To stay between ninth and twenty-fourth we have to take points in every game, we start with a very tough obstacle, but it will be an opportunity to measure ourselves”. For the Nerazzurri defender Sead Kolasinac, former player of the match, it will be an appointment unlike all the others: “I’m happy to see my old teammates again, it’s special, I’m happy to debut here in the Champions League tomorrow. It’s always difficult to play against English teams, they are physically strong. We often watch the Premier League, we know well that tomorrow will be difficult but we have prepared well and we will put the plan we have prepared into play”.
Across the river, Arteta. The Arsenal manager has no intention of underestimating Atalanta: “This will be a different format, but here we are, I am very motivated. There will be very difficult games, last year Atalanta did very well, they will want to start well too”. Jorginho presented himself with him: “I expect a very difficult game, Atalanta are a very physical team, we must be careful, they have a lot of quality and physicality. It is always an emotion to return to Italy”.