We had a video call with President Antonio Percassi to have his comment about the 2021-2022 UEFA Champions League Group Stage draw. Here is the interview with him.

The 2021-2022 Champions League Group Stage was drawn in Istanbul. Atalanta, who were in pot 3, were placed in Group F with Villarreal, Manchester United and Young Boys. What was Antonio Percassi’s first thought?

“I get a headache. They are great and important teams, who have a lot of experience. As we have always told each other, there is always something for us to learn. We’re going to university. These teams have a significant history. Hopefully, we can make a good impression.”

It’s also true that it could have been worse.

“Yes, as in all things, but I tell you that the worst would have been almost like carnage. Instead, we can fight it out. They are highly experienced teams. We have seen it, the teams you meet in the Champions League are highly respectable. Hopefully, we can make a good impression.”

This is Atalanta’s third UEFA Champions League participation in a row. This was an unimaginable achievement until a few years ago.

“Yes, it’s an incredible story. We too are shocked by these great achievements, which arrived thanks to a corporate structure that has proven itself to be at the level of the big teams. We have a great coach, above all, great professionals in all Atalanta’s employment sectors and players who did very well.”

We’ll travel to Villarreal, we’ll be back in Manchester, against United this time, and the Swiss Young Boys, with whom we share Plus500, our main sponsor.

“Exactly. They’re all great teams. They too will say about us: “Well, we’ll face a team that does not have all of our experience. But it is a team that has been doing very well in recent years.” They are getting to know us more and we too have taken a step forward, as we consider every Champions League match a great and exciting game, from every point of view. Again, you always learn from those matches.”