After a triumph of this magnitude, in a packed Maradona stadium and against league leaders Napoli, Marten de RoonAtalanta’s mainstay and symbol of the team, presents himself to DAZN. The Dutch midfielder not only celebrates his record appearances with the Nerazzurri shirt, but also explains the playing philosophy and cohesion that make Atalanta one of the most feared teams in the championship. And, despite dodging questions about the Scudetto, he suggests that the group knows well where it can go. Here’s what was highlighted by TuttoAtalanta.com
Captain, today you reached an incredible milestone, becoming the player with the most appearances in the history of Atalanta. What does this record represent for you?
“It is certainly a great pride, but today I want to talk above all about the team. We played an extraordinary match, here in Naples, against a very strong opponent. Bringing home three points in a match like this shows how much we have grown and how high we are as a level.”
After the success in the Europa League, many fans also dream of the tricolour. Has the time come to think about the Scudetto?
“No, honestly the Scudetto is an objective far from us. We have always maintained a humble profile, we think about one match at a time. The objectives are different, and we want to remain with our feet on the ground. At the end of the championship we will see where we are, but for now we just continue to focus on the next match.”
This Atalanta has won five games in a row and scored 29 goals. The aggressive play, the attacking phase, the determination: what is the real secret of this team?
“The secret is to have a clear idea of the game. We focus on high pressure and on keeping the attackers always ready to attack. Today, for example, we saw that Napoli was trying to attack with the full-backs, and so we exploited every space to disposition. The guys in attack, like De Ketelaere and Lookman, were able to seize every opportunity. We train hard to be ready for any type of opponent’s formation, and this gives us a huge advantage in the match.”
What, in your opinion, was the key to limiting Napoli, especially considering that you managed their attack attempts effectively?
“Our defensive solidity and ability to adapt. We know when to stay compact and when to sink, and against teams like Napoli it is fundamental. The whole group knows exactly what to do, regardless of the opponent’s formation, and this makes each of our matches even stronger and solid.”
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