Since the reintroduction of the last-16 knockout spherical to Europe’s showpiece competitors in 2003-04, there has at all times been no less than one Italian consultant.
Not since 1987-88, when Napoli went out in the first spherical of the European Cup to Real Madrid, has Serie A had no groups in the final 16 of the competitors – or first knockout spherical when it took different codecs.
After Inter’s exit on Tuesday, many Italian soccer specialists have been labelling it a catastrophe for the sport of their nation.
“It is a piece of history,” mentioned journalist Vincenzo Credendino. “Speaking about Italy and Inter, this is one of the worst pieces.”
Another Italian soccer journalist, Daniele Verri, mentioned all three sides failing to make the knockouts would have been a “complete debacle, a disaster for our clubs”.
Atalanta’s progress – and the method wherein they battled by – no less than supplies hope, though it would not get simpler for them in the final 16, with both Arsenal or Bayern Munich awaiting.
But in opposition to Dortmund, they confirmed the type of self-belief that may stand them in good stead in opposition to both the Premier League or Bundesliga leaders.
“Now Atalanta are the darlings of Italian football,” former West Brom and Aston Villa defender Curtis Davies mentioned on BBC Radio 5 Live.
European soccer professional James Horncastle added: “They’re sort of Serie A’s Bodo/Glimt in many respects.
“They have been a yo-yo membership till about eight years in the past and we have not solely seen them win a European trophy and attain three Coppa Italia finals however actually set up themselves in the Champions League.”
Football journalist Nicky Bandini described Atalanta’s comeback win as “vital” for Italian football, adding: “I feel there can be extra of a feelgood issue that carries over for a group like Atalanta than there can be for Juventus or for Inter as a result of they have not been historically one of the large groups of Italian soccer.”
