“Our satisfaction is still very fresh. We’re extremely happy. And we’re also happy, above all, that our entire Province is celebrating right now”.

They are celebrating a deserved qualification, as Atalanta had dominated the match in Naples, but couldn’t score. On the other end, here, Atalanta made it 2-0 in the first half and the game went your way. Then Napoli reopened the game, but Atalanta put it to bed with a certain Matteo Pessina, who scored a double this evening.

“Yes. I think if we analyse both legs objectively, Atalanta deserved to access the final. We won it on the pitch, and tonight’s result could have been even larger. Then there was an odd moment after the 2-1, but Atalanta deservedly qualified for the final”.

Was there a bit of fear after Napoli made it 2-1 – Gollini pulled off a great save by the way – that what happened against Torino could occur even in this match?

“Yes, a little bit, I can tell from the smile. This is part of the ‘football pain’ we’re used to. This is part of the game”.

How many years has this taken off the President’s life?

“My father is losing many years, probably too many. We miss the people, we miss the audience. We say it every time we sit in the tribune, seeing the stadium so empty, knowing how much they’re celebrating, yet not being able to do it all together, is the only defect of an extraordinary year.

Also because we remember the ‘exodus’ for another final, which occurred two years ago. Enthusiasm, the people, the desire of Atalanta, which never fades away. Perhaps Atalanta has given people a smile over the last twelve months.

“Yes. Our hope is that some people will be able to attend the final. This would somehow reward this absence, which has been too much. As we play the Coppa Italia final in May, we hope this allows us to have some of our fans with us”. 

Now, finally, we’re back focusing on the league, but the Champions League is just around the corner.

“The truth is that we’re playing so much. The coach is doing an extraordinary job with extraordinary guys. I’m always with them. I must say there is little to reproach. Sometimes people expect something surprising from Atalanta, but for my dad and me, everything is surprising. Only by keeping this profile, we can give value to the results obtained by Atalanta, game after game”.