Raffaele Palladino admits that the distinction in high quality of gamers is the principle purpose behind within the Champions League, however insists that he would keep on with the identical system if he have been to hypothetically play the identical sport once more.
Atalanta have been thumped 6-1 on residence soil by a dominant and ruthless Bayern facet within the first leg of their Champions League spherical of 16 tie in Bergamo on Tuesday evening: Josip Stanisic, Michael Olise, Serge Gnabry, Nicolas Jackson, Jamal Musiala and Mario Pasalic with the targets.
Commercial
Palladino reacts to Atalanta 6-1 Bayern Munich
Atalanta have been vastly outclassed by their Bundesliga opponents on the evening, however Palladino insists that his gamers will study from this expertise and grow to be higher as gamers and as a workforce due to it.
“Firstly let’s congratulate Bayern. A really robust workforce, at instances they have been really unplayable,” Palladino Sky Sport Italia after full-time. “For us, the most effective participant was our followers. I wish to thank them. They cheered us on till the very finish regardless of the defeat.
“It’s an expertise that may make us develop. I might go about it in the identical manner if we have been to play once more. If we received right here, to the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia and are preventing within the league, it’s due to the mentality and subsequently I might play like this once more.”
Commercial
Atalanta will likely be hoping to bounce again in Serie A this weekend, however they face one other robust process there with a visit to San Siro to tackle league leaders Inter on Saturday.
“The workforce has at all times reacted effectively to defeats and we are going to react as early as Saturday,” mentioned Palladino. “We’re going through a powerful workforce once more in Inter, however I’ve advised the workforce that they’ve to just accept the outcome and get well their power.”
BERGAMO, ITALY – MARCH 10: Michael Olise of FC Bayern Munich is challenged by Lorenzo Bernasconi and Mario Pasalic of Atalanta throughout the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Spherical of 16 First Leg match between Atalanta BC and FC Bayern München at Stadio di Bergamo on March 10, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Picture by Marco Luzzani/Getty Photographs)
Commercial
And returning to the subject of the Bayern defeat, Palladino mentioned: “We dropped off within the second half. They dribble at you and have these extremely robust wingers. They’re a workforce that’s destined to go all the best way, however having mentioned that, I’m proud of the workforce, which sweated till the top. And once more, I’d prefer to thank the followers.”
Palladino insists that he is not going to transfer away from Atalanta’s man-to-man system, even when it was a part of their downfall in opposition to Bayern.
“We anticipated them to place us in a tough spot, with their robust gamers up entrance and their assaults from deep. We settle for their qualities and strengths. We’ve come this far as a result of we’ve had this mentality and we gained’t change that. We gained’t defend zonally, we settle for the outcome and both we win or we study.
BERGAMO, ITALY – MARCH 10: Serge Gnabry of FC Bayern Munich scores his workforce’s third objective throughout the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Spherical of 16 First Leg match between Atalanta BC and FC Bayern München at Stadio di Bergamo on March 10, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Picture by Marco Luzzani/Getty Photographs)
Commercial
“I’ve by no means seen gamers with these qualities, They actually impressed me. They at all times gave it to gamers on their most popular foot and on the proper pace. You possibly can try to play deep, however they’ll nonetheless damage you all the identical.
“We had 4 massive absences, we didn’t have many gamers up entrance and we most popular to remain the identical after the sport in opposition to Udinese over the weekend.
“We have been by no means capable of restart correctly. They’d aggression and instantly gained the ball again. We’ve come this far as a result of we have now this mentality after beating Chelsea and Borussia Dortmund. Except for the system, the distinction is within the gamers.”