Atalanta vs Bologna – Palladino sets sights on Conference League target & talks future

Raffaele Palladino has urged Atalanta to stay focused on securing Conference League qualification ahead of Sunday’s home clash with Bologna, while reflecting candidly on a difficult April that derailed the club’s push for a higher finish and addressing his own uncertain future at the club.

According to his pre-match press conference at the Centro Bortolotti, via TuttoMercatoWeb, Palladino was measured but honest as he looked back on a month in which injuries and poor results cost Atalanta dearly.

“We have analysed many things to understand why the results did not come,” he said.

“In the middle of it all there were injuries to Ederson, De Ketelaere and others. Unfortunately many things came together at once. The players always gave everything and showed their faces for Atalanta. The fans were close to us even in the difficult moments.”

On the Conference League, Palladino was clear about the scale of the achievement it would represent. “It is nine years that Atalanta could arrive in Europe,” he said.

“In front of me I have an ambitious club with a desire to get there. The Conference League is a European competition with long away trips that can take energy, but it comes down to the capacity of the staff and squad to be ready for everything.”

When asked about his own future, Palladino was deliberately measured, pointing to Luca Percassi’s recent public comments as the appropriate reference point.

“I am focused on the present,” he said. “The most important thing is that Percassi spoke sincerely about the future, his words were as objective as they were clear. At the end we will sit down together and evaluate whether our ideas align for the good of Atalanta.”

Palladino also paid tribute to the club regardless of what lies ahead.

“I can only be grateful to Atalanta,” he said. “I have given a lot to the club and I hope to have left a good mark. I am grateful to the Percassi and Pagliuca families and to sporting director Tony D’Amico, always present at Zingonia.”

On team news, Palladino confirmed that Hien is suspended and that Kolasinac, Scalvini and Djimsiti will be assessed ahead of kick-off. He also hinted at opportunities for players who have had limited involvement, naming Sulemana, Samardzic, Bakker and Musah as those who could feature.