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Atalanta manager Raffaele Palladino celebrated a memorable night as his team secured a dominant 3-0 victory over Juventus in the Coppa Italia quarter-finals, booking their place in the semi-finals. The triumph at Bergamo on Tuesday was particularly sweet for Atalanta, who had previously lost two Coppa Italia finals to the Turin giants in 2021 and 2024.
The victory extended Atalanta’s impressive recent record against Juventus, remaining unbeaten in their last four meetings with two wins and two draws. Palladino, a former Juventus player himself, continued his personal success against his old club, having also defeated them in his first match as Monza manager.
Palladino Praises Open Style of Play
Speaking to Sport Mediaset after the match, Palladino expressed his satisfaction with the performance. “I enjoy these open matches. That’s true, I can’t deny it,” the coach said. He thanked the players, the club, and the passionate supporters who created what he described as “a cauldron of enthusiasm and inspiration” at the stadium.
The Atalanta boss called the evening “a magical night” and emphasized the team’s ambition to reach the Coppa Italia final. “We are showing consistency in our performance, and the substitutes entered with high morale, which made the difference,” Palladino explained, highlighting his trust in the entire squad.
Effectiveness Over Possession
Despite Juventus creating more scoring opportunities overall, Atalanta proved more clinical when it mattered. According to Palladino, his team “was decisive when necessary and defended valiantly when required.” The manager acknowledged the quality of the opposition, praising Juventus and their coach Luciano Spalletti, whom he described as “one of the best coaches in Italy.”
Palladino noted that Juventus had achieved many positive results in recent months, making Atalanta’s victory even more significant. He admitted the match was evenly balanced and that Juventus had chances to take the lead, but emphasized his enjoyment of such competitive encounters.
Team Spirit Drives Atalanta Success
The coach revealed an interesting detail from halftime, stating he asked players if they preferred to sit back defensively, but they insisted on maintaining pressure. “This is what makes me happy to hear,” Palladino said, praising their attacking mentality.
Additionally, Palladino stressed the importance of restoring team spirit since taking charge. Both he and Spalletti have brought significant changes to their respective clubs since September, when Ivan Juric and Egor Tudor were in charge of Atalanta and Juventus respectively.
Challenging Schedule Ahead
The Atalanta manager acknowledged the demanding period facing his squad. “It’s a wonderful group of players doing their utmost to achieve good results in three competitions,” he stated. However, he recognized that managing commitments across Serie A, the Champions League, and the Coppa Italia would make the coming month extremely challenging.
Meanwhile, the victory maintains Atalanta’s push for silverware on multiple fronts this season. The team’s consistency under Palladino has transformed their fortunes compared to earlier in the campaign.
Atalanta will await the Coppa Italia semi-final draw to learn their next opponent as they pursue redemption following their previous final defeats to Juventus. The date and opponent for the semi-final tie have not yet been confirmed by Italian football authorities.
