Raffaele Palladino is seeking ‘a flawless performance’ from Atalanta as they face off against his longtime friend Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea. He emphasized, ‘It’s a chance to showcase our abilities’ in the Champions League.
The match is scheduled to kick off at the New Balance Arena in Bergamo on Tuesday at 20:00 GMT.
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Despite Atalanta’s impressive form since Palladino’s appointment following the dismissal of Ivan Juric, they suffered an unexpected setback over the weekend with a 3-1 loss to bottom-placed Serie A team Hellas Verona.
“We need to start fresh after that disappointing performance,” Palladino remarked, clearly frustrated during his press conference.
“I spoke with the players, who were very upset about how the game unfolded. We don’t want to experience that kind of match again, and tomorrow presents an opportunity to assert ourselves against Chelsea, competing fiercely for every ball.
“I have an excellent group of players eager to make amends for the Verona match. Such performances should never recur, and we need to give everything in our upcoming matches against both Chelsea and Cagliari. I want to see a perfect performance.”
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Palladino Demands Excellence from Atalanta
VERONA, ITALY – DECEMBER 06: Raffaele Palladino, Head Coach of Atalanta, speaks during an interview prior to the Serie A match between Hellas Verona FC and Atalanta BC at Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi on December 06, 2025, in Verona, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
This season, Atalanta has performed notably better in the Champions League compared to Serie A, and there are hopes they can maintain that level of focus.
“Our goal is to reach a point where we consistently display that intensity across all competitions. For achieving significant goals, every player must step up and contribute,” Palladino stated.
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“I need to spend more time with the team; we must fight on every pitch. This squad needs to reignite its enthusiasm after some disappointing months.”
Chelsea won the Conference League last season and are currently excelling in the Premier League, having bounced back from a 3-1 defeat to Bayern Munich with three wins and a draw in the Champions League, including a remarkable 3-0 victory over Barcelona in their last match.
NAPLES, ITALY – NOVEMBER 22: Raffaele Palladino, head coach of Atalanta BC, during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Atalanta BC at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on November 22, 2025, in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)
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“I demand a perfect performance,” Palladino continued. “Facing strong opponents allows us to understand various aspects of our game. We must take it one match at a time.
“I anticipate a formidable Chelsea with exceptional individual talents. I studied them while I was in England, but obviously, in a match scenario, it’s entirely different.
“I’m pleased for Maresca and all he’s accomplished, given that we’ve been friends since our time at Juventus.”
BERGAMO, ITALY – NOVEMBER 30: Raffaele Palladino, Head Coach of Atalanta BC, embraces Kamaldeen Sulemana of Atalanta BC following the team’s victory during the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and ACF Fiorentina at Gewiss Stadium on November 30, 2025, in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
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Atalanta has shown versatility in their tactical approach, sometimes utilizing a center-forward and at other times deploying Charles De Ketelaere as a False 9. What can we expect in tomorrow’s match?
“We’ll see; I have numerous options in attack, but the key is for the team to deliver a perfect game. We are eager to take to the field,” said Palladino.
“Having played as a forward under Gian Piero Gasperini, I’ve learned a lot, and now I’m trying to share that knowledge. Charles is a natural leader and a fantastic player. He’s working diligently for the team since strikers are often the first line of defense.
“I admire his tenacity in every situation. Gianluca Scamacca is on the path to improvement as well; he needs to contribute to scoring and support his teammates, especially as he works to regain his scoring rhythm after the injury.”