Here are the post-match interviews with two of the Nerazzurri key players from the match between Atalanta and Bayer 04 Leverkusen: Davide Zappacosta and Teun Koopmeiners.

Davide Zappacosta

Davide Zappacosta, we saw a great Atalanta side, a great victory at the Gewiss Stadium. You managed to come back from behind after a bit complicated start.

“Yes, exactly. It was a great Atalanta side. The match was very difficult. The opposing team played with great intensity and great quality. And at our best time, as we started off well, they scored. There was a risk of suffering mentally. But we did great to bounce back and put in a great performance.”

So, when you’ll go to Germany for the return leg in the Round of 16, you’ll have two possible results at hand.

“Yes, it’s the bright side. But we’ll surely go to Germany to win the match. We shouldn’t focus on having two out of three possible results at hand, though. We must go to play there with this mentality because we proved to be able to cause them difficulties.”

How important was it to deliver such performance after going through a difficult time in the league?

“Yes, it was very important because sometimes after difficult times, you perhaps lose confidence, clarity of mind. While tonight we proved to be a really great team. We played very well technically, too. We’ll need to try to regain confidence, as we did tonight to play well.”

Teun Koopmeiners

Teun Koopmeiners, you managed to turn it around after a difficult start to this game.

“Yes, it’s true. I think we started well on the ball. We put them under a lot of pressure, created some chances. Unfortunately, we conceded one goal so they made it 0-1. It was very difficult to bounce back, especially against a team like [Bayer] Leverkusen because they played with high intensity. I really have to compliment the whole team. But we’re still halfway through it.”

And what about the second leg?

“We’ll go there to play and to win. I think that’s the spirit that the team has. That’s what we want as a team. But we’re still halfway through it. The competition hasn’t finished. I think to play with a team like [Bayer] Leverkusen, you have to be focused.”

How important was it to win tonight, to provide such a good performance at the Gewiss Stadium?

“I guess it gave a really positive energy to the group. As I said, winning against a very difficult team like [Bayer] Leverkusen, who are doing really well in Germany, gives a boost to the whole team and the Club for this weekend’s match and also for the one next week in Germany.”