Here are the interviews with some of the Nerazzurri protagonists on the pitch, starting from Jérémie Boga, continuing with today’s top scorer Berat Djimsiti and finishing with Mario Pašalić: Atalanta win 2-1 in the 1st leg of the UEFA Europa League knockout round playoffs against Olympiacos.

Jérémie Boga

Jérémie, how important is this win for you, not only numerically but mentally?

“Yes, it was very important to win today, because we did it at home. We hadn’t won at home for a long time. So, it’s an amazing win for us. I think we had a good second half. We created many chances. We deserved this win today.”

Isn’t it a relief for you to win at the Gewiss Stadium in front of your fans?

“Yes, in front of our fans… I think they longed for this victory. We did it for them. I’m happy with today’s win.

The match didn’t start well, though. You were a goal behind, you had to chase.

“Yes, the first half was complicated. They scored the opener. I think we had some difficulty managing the ball. But we came from behind in the second half. I think we deserve this result.”

It’s important for the second leg as everything will be decided in Piraeus. You have this little advantage that you must keep.

“Yes, it’s little. But it’s an advantage. We’ll go there with the same desire to win. We’ll try to get a result to go through.”

Berat Djimsiti

Berat Djimsiti, the man of the match, it couldn’t be otherwise, a brace, your brace brought Atalanta this win.

“Yes. I’m happy with the win, first of all. Secondly, [I’m happy] with the brace. But, first of all, we really wanted to win. It was crucial for us as we hadn’t been winning for a long time, especially at home with our fans. We hadn’t been winning, we hadn’t been celebrating. In the end, we did it. If there’s something more, the brace that I scored, I’m happy with it, too.”

So, tell us about it. You scored a glancing header into the far top corner. And then you ran to that ball in the box that wouldn’t go in but you came to the rescue.

“Yes, we had some chances from corner kicks in the first half. We were very dangerous upfront with Pašalić. It seemed to me that he nodded twice. I kept on telling him that I was available there. Sometimes, [I told that] to Lucho. And then Koop crossed that ball to me. Let’s say, I received it perfectly and nodded in. The second goal was a bit accidental, the ball fell to me and I fired into the net. Anyways.”

It went well, anyway. It’s a little advantage to be kept. This 2-1 lead is to be managed in the second leg.

“No, I think everyone knows that we’re not that team who manage [a lead]. But, of course, it’s a positive result. We’ve got two results available. We’ll play away and it’ll be a battle. We could see in the first half that the team were very strong, they have very fast players.”

Mario Pašalić

Mario Pašalić, wherever the Coach makes you play, you enter the pitch, play and do your job.

“I do everything the coach tells me to, where he sees me, where I can help the team. It’s not a problem, I just do it. I do what he tells me to.”

We’ve discovered a Mario Pašalić wildcard of this Atalanta side.

“I’ve done a bit of everything over these years. I’ve covered all positions. I repeat, whatever position the coach plays me, I do what he asks me to.”

The match didn’t actually start well. Atalanta had to struggle again.

“Yes, in spite of committing many errors, as we often do, hopefully, we’ll avoid them in the next matches. We deserved to win. We created chances. A goal was missing. When you don’t score, you concede. It happens often. We have to work a lot on it. Atalanta showed their character, though. The team has a lot of strength, as usual.”

As you said, you could see the character. And we won. You’ve faced Olympiacos and will have more certainty about the second leg.

“Yes, we know them better now. We saw that they are a great team, that can play and can be dangerous upfront, fast. But we can manage it, we can go through.

Now, Mario, you’re going home to little Luka.

“Yes, he’s waiting for me. He’s amazing. I’m very happy. It will be a whole different life now. So, I’m very happy.”