Maurizio Sarri urges Atalanta to stay humble ahead of Conference League clash with Pafos
Atalanta BC head coach Maurizio Sarri has warned his side to remain humble as they prepare for the UEFA Conference League play‑off first leg against Cypriot outfit Pafos. Speaking ahead of the match, Sarri highlighted the importance of modesty in modern football, reflected on a reunion with former Chelsea defender David Luiz, and acknowledged that leaving the Premier League might have been a misstep.
Match details and kickoff time
The encounter is scheduled to kick off at the New Balance Arena at 20:00 UK time (21:00 CEST). Atalanta’s recent Serie A form shows a 3‑1 victory over Venezia that ended a three‑game losing streak, although the late red card to Eljif Elmas left little time to prepare for the European tie.
Pafos dropped into the Conference League after elimination from the Europa League preliminary rounds by RB Salzburg, but Sarri cautioned that the Cypriot side possesses strong technical qualities and should not be underestimated.
Sarri’s message: humility is key
Speaking to Sky Sport Italia, Sarri said: “We had to get it done quickly, we only managed 35 minutes in training this morning.” He added, “I expect opponents with great technical ability and we will try to cause them problems. The main issue is to remain humble, because humility is perhaps the most important element in modern football, because any team can cause you issues.”
The coach also noted that several first‑team defenders — Giorgio Scalvini, Franck Kessie, Kamaldeen Sulemana, Isak Hien, Odilon Kossounou and Raoul Bellanova — are unavailable, forcing him to field a makeshift back four for the evening.
Reunion with David Luiz and reflection on Chelsea departure
The match marks a reunion with David Luiz, who continues his career at Pafos after working with Sarri at Chelsea and winning the Europa League under him in 2019. Sarri told the broadcaster: “I will say what David Luiz already knows, which is that I remember him with great affection and as a great player too. Aside from his talent as a player, I will always remember him as a lovely person.”
When asked whether he regrets leaving the Premier League after just one season at Chelsea, Sarri admitted: “We did win the Scudetto in Turin, but perhaps leaving the Premier League was an error.” The comment refers to his brief stint at Chelsea (2018‑19) before returning to Italy, first with Juventus and later with other Serie A clubs.
As of the latest verified information available up to June 2024, Maurizio Sarri was appointed head coach of Atalanta BC, and the club was preparing for their 2026/27 UEFA Conference League campaign. No further official updates regarding the specific match against Pafos have been released beyond the preview details outlined above.
Sports, Football, Italian Football, UEFA Conference League, Atalanta BC, Maurizio Sarri, David Luiz, Pafos FC, Bergamo, Italy, Cyprus
