Atalanta’s Ninth Place Finish in Champions League “Extraordinary”, Says Marino

Atalanta’s Director General Umberto Marino expressed his delight with the club’s performance in this season’s UEFA Champions League, hailing their ninth-place finish as an “extraordinary achievement”. Speaking to Sky Sports following the Champions League playoff draw, Marino reflected on the team’s impressive campaign and looked ahead to their upcoming playoff tie.

“We approach the playoffs with the awareness that we can compete,” Marino stated, acknowledging the strength of their opponents. “We’ve had a fantastic season. Finishing ninth in the standings is an extraordinary achievement, with a remarkable goal difference. We’re very happy.”

Marino was particularly enthusiastic about Atalanta’s recent 2-2 draw against Barcelona, describing it as “a great advertisement for Italian football and European football.”

When asked about the potential impact of Charles De Ketelaere in the upcoming matches, Marino praised the player’s development: “He’s a great player who needed to find the right environment, and he’s found it in Bergamo. He’s growing game by game, and we’re delighted with his contribution.”

Addressing concerns about the team’s defensive depth and potential transfer activity in the final hours of the transfer window, Marino expressed confidence in manager Gian Piero Gasperini’s ability to find solutions. “The coach is skilled at surprising us with new solutions. We have great trust in him. We’ll see what happens in the last days of the transfer market.”