Atalanta is rallying behind Maurizio Sarri, but there are three strong alternatives
Atalanta has decided to rally around Maurizio Sarri, reaffirming its confidence in the coach for now but choosing to send the team to a training camp in Zingonia in hopes of turning things around. The club has postponed any assessment of the coaching situation until the next international break, when the results of the two matches against Kairat and Monza will be analyzed. In the event of further missteps, his dismissal could become a real possibility, with Thiago Motta, Igor Tudor, and Stefano Pioli among the possible candidates to succeed him.
These will therefore be decisive days for the coach, who is tasked with turning around a team coming off a heavy home loss to Parma and a league start that has fallen short of expectations, with just eleven points earned in ten matchdays. The first test will be the home game against Kairat at the New Balance Arena, followed by Sunday’s away match in Monza against former Inter coach Ivan Juric. On paper, these are two manageable matches, but they have become crucial for Sarri’s future on the Nerazzurri bench.
The loss to Gilardino’s Parma—Parma’s first win since the former striker took over the team—came at the New Balance Arena with a score of 3-0: after a goal by the Nerazzurri was disallowed in the 8th minute due to Zappacosta being offside on the shot that was then tapped in by Krstovic, Fabbian opened the scoring in the 41st minute with a header off a cross from Sierro. Early in the second half, the second goal came in dramatic fashion, with Zappacosta himself deflecting Touré’s cross with his knee, catching Carnesecchi off guard, while in the 58th minute, Lontani sealed the victory after nutmegging Pasalic. The Croatian then hit the crossbar in the 79th minute, but Sarri’s team was unable to get back into the game.
The situation is made even more dire by the statistics: Atalanta is in 13th place and trails the European spots by nine points, while defensively, the 20 goals conceded in ten games—the same as last-place Venezia—are cause for concern. Their last league win came on October 12, when the Nerazzurri beat Venezia 3-1; since then, they’ve drawn with Frosinone (4-4) and Fiorentina (2-2), lost to Milan, and, as mentioned, suffered a defeat against Parma. In Florence, Sarri also lost Scalvini to injury after just four minutes—he was replaced by Kristensen—and the team allowed the opponent to equalize after taking the lead through De Ketelaere, only to concede a late equalizer to Zalewski.
Criticism erupted on social media and at the stadium, with a barrage of boos and scathing comments that spared neither the coach nor the ownership. Already after the 4-4 draw with Frosinone, a portion of the fan base had openly called for the coach to step down, criticizing in particular his substitution decisions and the switch to a 4-2-3-1 formation, while other supporters had instead emphasized the impact of the injury crisis, with numerous key players sidelined.
Financial and strategic considerations also played a role in the decision to wait: according to Sky, the club took its time both because of the cost of a potential dismissal and because it would mark the third coaching change in just over a year, following Gasperini’s departure and the tenures of Juric and Palladino. Thiago Motta and Igor Tudor, both former Juventus players, were reportedly chosen by Cristiano Giuntoli during his time with the Bianconeri, while Pioli is currently a free agent following his unsuccessful stint at Fiorentina. Fabio Cannavaro is also active in the coaching market; he is considering his future as head coach of Uzbekistan and makes no secret of his desire to return to Serie A, with Sarri’s position among those he is eyeing, along with Alberto Aquilani’s role at Sassuolo.
