Sarri: ‘Atalanta improving, but needs to light fire in its soul’

BERGAMO, ITALY - AUGUST 23: Maurizio Sarri, Head Coach of Atalanta looks on before the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and US Sassuolo at Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia on August 23, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Maurizio Sarri insists Atalanta performances have been ‘improving’ despite a third straight defeat to Juventus, but ‘this team needs to light a fire in its soul.’

La Dea had the opportunities to equalise after the Francisco Conceicao opener, specifically when Randal Kolo Muani became a makeshift defender for the goal-line clearance, but Gleison Bremer nodded in a corner to seal the 2-0 result in Turin.

It was the third consecutive defeat for Sarri’s side, who are struggling to adapt to his style of football.

Sarri mixed view of Atalanta

“We were in the game until the second goal, then we lost our unity and our shape,” insisted the coach to Sky Sport Italia.

“It was a pretty balanced encounter for 65 minutes. I maintain my team is improving both technically and tactically, but we are still lagging behind in terms of courage, enthusiasm and taking the initiative.”

After three consecutive Serie A defeats, is it time to talk about a crisis for Atalanta?

“I don’t think so, the first three games were a lower level of performance, but we have been improving over the last three. This team needs to have more character, to light up that fire in its soul.

“This is a side with certain capabilities and it needs to access them.”

What can Sarri do in order to light that fire within Atalanta?

“We have been alternating between two tactical systems, but I am asking them to have more initiative and character. We might lose anyway, but we’ve got to try and do it.

“If we built out from the back more quickly, we’d create some one on one situations. The big regret is that I am not seeing improvement in terms of character.”

Francisco Conceicao was left unmarked to turn in the opening goal, so what went wrong?

“Our winger allowed a run behind him, so we ended up with a centre-back out of position trying to block off the by-line, and the positions weren’t the right ones. I didn’t like that. The ball should not have been allowed to get through.

“I worry that if we keep talking about this as a year of construction, the team might take it as an excuse to lose concentration.”

There was also controversy straight after the goal when Jonathan Rowe had penalty appeals for a Pierre Kalulu shirt tug.

“Honestly, I prefer this version with practically no VAR interventions. Having said that, when there are clear and obvious situations like the Kalulu tug on Rowe, then if VAR doesn’t get involved there, we may as well abolish it completely.”