Palladino offers reassurance after Djimsiti blunder: ‘Must be flawless in these matches’
BERGAMO, ITALY – DECEMBER 28: Atalanta BC manager Raffaele Palladino gives directions to his players during the Serie A clash between Atalanta BC and FC Internazionale at New Balance Arena on December 28, 2025 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
The Atalanta coach Raffaele Palladino discusses his response to Berat Djimsiti following the pivotal mistake that handed Inter all three points. ‘You must be flawless against opponents like this.’ La Dea failed to shake off their persistent troubles against Inter, suffering nine straight defeats in all competitions. They sensed a stroke of luck when Marcus Thuram’s goal was disallowed for offside, but Djimsiti’s errant pass offered a gift to Francesco Pio Esposito, who assisted Lautaro Martinez’s decisive goal. Palladino lenient after Atalanta’s mistakes
BERGAMO, ITALY – DECEMBER 28: Atalanta BC coach Raffaele Palladino directs player Charles De Ketelaere during the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and FC Internazionale at New Balance Arena on December 28, 2025 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) “We had a distinct strategy compared to recent years when Atalanta faced Inter, as pressing them high can yield results, but they can navigate around you very effectively,” Palladino explained to DAZN Italia. “Therefore, we opted to adopt a slightly more reserved approach. I believed we performed well defensively, but we could have been more efficient in exploiting counter-attacks. Our first half was somewhat lacking in potency.”
At half-time, I instructed them to push forward more, circulate the ball horizontally, and stretch the Inter defense. We improved significantly, but the disappointment lies in conceding that goal during a stretch of the match where we were quite even.” A late Christmas present for Lautaro Martinez and Inter Milan, as they take the lead in Bergamo!
Djimsiti won’t be eager to review that moment
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— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) December 28, 2025 Lazar Samardzic had a prime chance to level late in the game but botched the finish following a setup from Charles De Ketelaere. “I aimed to bring on fresh faces, and we switched to a four-man defense. We created that significant opportunity with Samardzic, but unfortunately, we couldn’t convert,” Palladino added. “I informed the team that this match will serve as a learning experience since we faced a formidable side, yet we battled until the very end and must accept the outcome. We have another crucial match coming up against Roma, so we need to clear our minds.”
BERGAMO, ITALY – DECEMBER 28: Marcus Thuram of FC Internazionale battles for the ball against Sead Kolasinac of Atalanta BC during the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and FC Internazionale at New Balance Arena on December 28, 2025 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) It was an uncharacteristic mistake from Djimsiti, considered one of the most dependable and seasoned defenders in the Atalanta lineup. “I approached Djimmi to embrace him after the final whistle because these errors are so infrequent for him that I couldn’t remain angry. It’s part of a season, and it occurred for him tonight,” Palladino admitted. “We were too ineffective in attack this evening, and you need to be flawless against teams like Inter, which means capitalizing on every half-chance afforded to you, as those opportunities are scarce. They excel at defending and in individual matchups, leaving us unfortunately lacking in our finishing, but we battled until the end.”
BERGAMO, ITALY – DECEMBER 28: Atalanta BC coach Raffaele Palladino observes the action during the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and FC Internazionale at New Balance Arena on December 28, 2025 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) This defeat marks a setback for Atalanta, who had secured victories in seven of their last eight matches in all competitions, including a Champions League win over Chelsea. They found themselves tied in the Serie A standings on 22 points with Sassuolo and Udinese. The upcoming fixture in January 2026 is set to be exceptional, as Gian Piero Gasperini returns to Bergamo as Roma’s manager to face his former team. Is Palladino feeling any pressure from that matchup? “It’s not a competition between me and the history or me and Gasperini. He was a mentor to me, and I appreciate everything he has imparted to me, but now our focus must be on ourselves and the future. We have been performing well lately in both Italy and the Champions League, so we will strive wholeheartedly to win the match.”
Published: 2025-12-28 22:38:00
source: football-italia.net
