Donyell Malen is in “a state of grace” right now for Roma, and Atalanta coach Maurizio Sarri knows his squad has a massive problem on their hands ahead of Saturday evening’s clash at the Stadio Olimpico. Sarri specifically highlighted the Dutchman as the main attacking threat his team absolutely has to contain, emphasizing just how pivotal it will be to shut him down if they want any chance in this tough road game.
Stopping Malen Won’t Be Easy With Atalanta’s Schedule
Sarri didn’t mince words, telling TuttoSport that “Malen is in a state of grace, so it will be important to stop him.” But here’s the kicker: stopping a player on that kind of run is tough enough without a brutal schedule working against you. Atalanta is the only Serie A team that’s already played four matches in just 11 days! Think about that, four games in less than two weeks. That kind of grind leaves almost no time for specific training or prep for opponents. Sarri pointed out the huge disparity, saying it’s “a match between a team that already has 13 or 14 months of work behind it and one like ours that has had 45 days.” That’s a wild difference in team cohesion, and it’s definitely something that could bite Atalanta, especially with several new guys still trying to figure out Sarri’s system.
Sarri Is Relieved About One Thing: Roma Is A Real Threat
Despite all these challenges, there’s one thing Sarri is actually happy about: the summer transfer window is finally slammed shut! He admitted, “I am happy that the transfer window is over. We coaches cannot have 50 days with the transfer window in the middle.” You can totally feel his relief there. It means he can finally focus 100% on football instead of all the transfer rumors swirling around. He’s also pretty satisfied with the club’s summer business, which is a good sign. But don’t think for a second Sarri isn’t taking Roma seriously. He gave a super strong assessment of Gian Piero Gasperini’s side, flat-out saying they should be considered “genuine Scudetto contenders” after beefing up their roster this summer. “I would be surprised if Roma did not fight for the Scudetto,” he declared, even calling Gasperini a “very strong coach.”
So, Atalanta’s heading into a seriously difficult match. Roma has started strong, and Atalanta is battling fatigue and a short preparation window. Sarri insists his team will “try to play our game” and approach it “without fear.” But make no mistake, with Malen red hot and Roma looking like title contenders, this Saturday evening clash is going to be one of Atalanta’s toughest tests yet. Can they contain Malen and pull off an upset, or will Roma prove Sarri’s Scudetto prediction right?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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