Sarri spoke at the pre-match press conference about Malen's threat, team cohesion, and the transfer window closing.

Coach, you spend a lot of time studying opponents when preparing for matches: How do you see this AS Roma side, and what do you demand from your players to contain Malen, who has already scored 5 goals in two games?

Sarri said: "If there really were a foolproof way to stop strong attacking players, there would be no strong attackers. Malen is in top form right now, so he'll be a problem the entire game, which is normal when you face a player of this level. As for the match, we're preparing in our usual way. Unfortunately, we're the only team in Italy that has played 4 games in 11 days and will play our 5th game in 16 days tomorrow. Combined with some other special circumstances, this has caused us many problems. We have to keep restarting, so our growth rate has slowed."

A reporter asked if this was the first week the team could train fully without worrying about a midweek fixture.

Sarri replied: "We have a match in 5 days, so this is another very abnormal week. The training schedule always needs to include +1, +2, -2, -1, which makes it very difficult to do truly high-quality, serious, important training—which is what we need most right now."

On the transfer window closure

Sarri said: "I'm very happy. Like almost all European coaches these days, I think this is a situation that needs to be adjusted: we coaches cannot train the team for 50 days while the transfer window is open. Everyone says that now, but a few years ago when I said it, I was accused of complaining. The funny thing is, back then when I complained, you reporters wrote about it; if Klopp or Guardiola said it now, you'd say they have a point. But that's how it is—almost all coaches think this way now."

On how this transfer window went, Sarri said: "I'm satisfied. Like all coaches, I always want more, but I'm satisfied nonetheless. As for the transfer window, everyone did good work on paper; it needs to be judged on the pitch."

On Kessié's position

Sarri said: "In my opinion, he's a very strong and intelligent player. With our current system, he can play both as a central midfielder and as a deep playmaker. I don't think he'll have too many tactical problems in either of those positions."

On AS Roma's strength

Sarri said: "AS Roma was already a strong team, and now they've strengthened further. This is a strong side and also a team that can fight for the title. It would surprise me if AS Roma couldn't keep pace until the end."

On whether this match will test Atalanta Bergamo's current situation

Sarri said: "The club hasn't even asked us that question. They asked us to start a new cycle, and we're moving forward despite various difficulties. The World Cup meant players returned at different times, and we also had two or three injuries that kept several very important players from training with the team, so they've had very few sessions with the full squad. The transfer market also meant some new signings arrived in the final days. All of this is like a fresh start, and the team's current level is still below what they'll be capable of in the future."

On his different philosophy compared to Gasperini

Sarri said: "You're asking me about a saint, and I don't really understand that and don't know how to answer. Our philosophies are indeed different, but he and I are not the same, and he won't change my mind. He's an inspiring coach and one I consider very strong. Everyone knows, especially those of us our age, that we've seen all kinds of styles win championships in football: coaches who play on the counter, coaches who use man-marking systems, coaches who pursue beautiful football—they've all won. So there's no style that inherently guarantees success; as long as it's done well, any style can work. My respect for this coach is absolute."

On Atalanta Bergamo's last 3 wins, which were comebacks or victories in the final 15 minutes

Sarri said: "I prefer the latter. By my current assessment, our physical condition isn't particularly good, for the reasons I mentioned earlier—there are some special circumstances that prevent us from giving our best. In football there are 5 substitutions, and the key is having players on the bench, especially attacking players, who shouldn't come in disappointed but should know they're there to decide the game. If we can maintain that mentality, the bench can bring us points, as it has recently. Of course, the players also need to feel highly valued, and those coming off the bench who change the game should also be players who often start."

On the threat from Malen and the inconsistent Dybala

Sarri said: "We don't have players with those characteristics. Malen is a monster: he's technically excellent when he drops deep to link play, lethal in the box, and has an extremely strong ability to time his runs on the counter-attack, which makes him very difficult to contain. We have many options, all of good quality, and I hope one of them can play a key role in the match."

On Gasperini's influence at Atalanta Bergamo

Sarri said: "It's not a shadow. Obviously, if a coach had such a big influence over a long period, everyone will remember him perfectly, but I don't see it that way. After that, the club decided to go a different direction, which is a process I have to go through, but more importantly, it's a process the club has to go through."

On whether the Stadio Olimpico in Roma is like a derby

Sarri said: "I spent 4 years at Lazio, so they probably won't like me too much, though I've never been disrespectful to them. Derbies are very special matches, especially in Rome, where you don't just feel the team but rather represent a community. It's a very special game. But obviously I've moved on, and now I have to think about Atalanta Bergamo, and that's it."

On the transition from a three-man defense to a four-man defense

Sarri said: "It's already starting to look decent in training, but in a match, under pressure, it still tends to revert to man-marking habits. Individual player performance isn't bad; if you ask me how the defense functions as a unit, it's not so good."

Übersetzt von KI.

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