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Cinderella Atalanta writes history as COVID-19 hits Bergamo hard
BERGAMO, March 11, 2020 - Atalanta have made history: after a 4-1 first leg home victory over Valencia in the Champions League round of 16, they inflicted a 4-3 defeat on their opponents in the return leg to secure a historic qualification to the quarterfinals. “It is the highest point in the history of the Dea (Atalanta's nickname which means Goddess), from 1907 to today,” - declares Matteo De Sanctis, journalist of L'Eco di Bergamo and host of Tutto Atalanta, talk show on Bergamo TV.
CINDERELLA MAKING HISTORY “We could compare this result to the 1987 semi-final in the Cup Winners' Cup, but it was certainly not the level of the current Champions League - continues De Sanctis - but it is a dramatic moment for our city and our country and this inevitably ruined the party.”
Bergamo is one of the cities most affected by the spread of COVID-19 and the containment measures declared on Sunday 8 March suspended all types of collective or recreational activities, all types of travel, all types of contact.
“The historical result obtained by Mister Gasperini's men contrasts with the dramatic moment we are experiencing: the Bergamo people respected all the rules, they just hung some more flags, a few scarves outside their balconies, in silence,” says De Sanctis, “everyone watched the game at home, with his wife or children, no bars, no friends to invite and no party after the company.” Just as requested and recommended by the mayor of Bergamo, Giorgio Gori on the eve of the match.
RUINED PARTY In recent months we had become accustomed to seeing images of many fans waiting for the team at the airport, to celebrate on the streets. This time not. “The party is ruined by the ambulances that come and go. Every house suffers - continues De Sanctis - but this team was able to give two hours of serenity, entering the houses not only of the Bergamo and fans, but also of Italians: For our country, football remains the classic sport that serves to pull the plug right now.”
THE TEAM At the end of the game, the Gasperini players celebrated in a very particular way. After having gathered in midfield, with technical staff and experts, the Nerazzurri flaunted a shirt with a message addressed precisely to the city of Bergamo: "Bergamo, this is for you, Mola Mia". Mola mia is the philosophy of Atalanta and the city: it means never giving up, working, being humble and believing in those who work alongside us. A philosophy that also becomes a source of pride for the management of the line-up: a Champions League Cindarella squad costing 'only 93 million', the least expensive side among all the teams of the major European leagues participating in the 2019-20 Champions League.
THE ATALANTINE PRIDE Lara Cavagna, volleyball player for over twenty-five years in Serie B in the province of Bergamo and an Atalantine fan confessed: "Yesterday I was at home and I thought .. but how can I celebrate for a football game tonight? With all that's going on? With hospitals full of people who are sick and people who work day and night .. but Atalanta is not football .. or rather not only .. Atalanta is a creed for us from Bergamo .. it is a faith .. it's a sense of belonging .. and never like last night have I felt the pride of being part of all this .. as a sportswoman, from Atalanta, from Bergamo and from Italy .. because the goddess is an example for everyone right now. how something really big can come from something really small. And I love her, I love those guys who gave us a dream and two hours of joy in the midst of all this.”
THE FUTURE But what does it mean to hit the Champions League quarter-finals after the suspension of the Serie A Championship, in a rarefied atmosphere that leaves room for a thousand doubts? “A provincial that achieves this result, without having huge financial investments or a top player that makes the difference behind it, is already news in itself - explains De Santis - but the attitude seen also yesterday evening is that of a team that he wants to continue the adventure, which attacks, which amuses. There are some teams that seem certain of another level, such as Barcelona or Real Madrid, but in front of Leipzig, Naples or Juventus in the event of a move, Atalanta could have its say."
GASPERINI And in a team that is not based on the single star talent like Messi or Ronaldo on duty, the coach seems to be the leitmotif of a reality that continues to settle among the top positions in Serie A. "In the fourth, seventh order, third and also in this season at the moment among the top four, always signed by Gasperini - recalls De Sanctis - this coach has many merits, just think of the exaltation of Ilicic (author of the 4 goals last night) and Papu Gomez, who are no longer kids, thanks to the choral game. This is Gasp's Atalanta, a coach who manages to get excited in the medium to long term by finding important results, as shown in Genoa, where he remains a guru."
THE ATHLETES With the new decree Atalanta goes on training in a climate specially designed and specially protected in Zingonia: “From there not even a pin enters, the team is pampered in what looks like a hospital in the hospital - concludes De Sanctis - the next round could be the Champions League quarter-finals on April 7-8, but there are a lot of questions."
And even if the coronavirus forces UEFA to suspend the Champions League, Atalanta would have achieved extraordinary success. But Bergamo 'mola mia', never gives up. Bergamo wants more. And we are confident that they will soon be able to celebrate as they deserves with the people on the streets and the pride of having won the most complicated battle of the moment. In their hospitals with doctors and nurses as forward players.
CINDERELLA MAKING HISTORY “We could compare this result to the 1987 semi-final in the Cup Winners' Cup, but it was certainly not the level of the current Champions League - continues De Sanctis - but it is a dramatic moment for our city and our country and this inevitably ruined the party.”
Bergamo is one of the cities most affected by the spread of COVID-19 and the containment measures declared on Sunday 8 March suspended all types of collective or recreational activities, all types of travel, all types of contact.
“The historical result obtained by Mister Gasperini's men contrasts with the dramatic moment we are experiencing: the Bergamo people respected all the rules, they just hung some more flags, a few scarves outside their balconies, in silence,” says De Sanctis, “everyone watched the game at home, with his wife or children, no bars, no friends to invite and no party after the company.” Just as requested and recommended by the mayor of Bergamo, Giorgio Gori on the eve of the match.
RUINED PARTY In recent months we had become accustomed to seeing images of many fans waiting for the team at the airport, to celebrate on the streets. This time not. “The party is ruined by the ambulances that come and go. Every house suffers - continues De Sanctis - but this team was able to give two hours of serenity, entering the houses not only of the Bergamo and fans, but also of Italians: For our country, football remains the classic sport that serves to pull the plug right now.”
THE TEAM At the end of the game, the Gasperini players celebrated in a very particular way. After having gathered in midfield, with technical staff and experts, the Nerazzurri flaunted a shirt with a message addressed precisely to the city of Bergamo: "Bergamo, this is for you, Mola Mia". Mola mia is the philosophy of Atalanta and the city: it means never giving up, working, being humble and believing in those who work alongside us. A philosophy that also becomes a source of pride for the management of the line-up: a Champions League Cindarella squad costing 'only 93 million', the least expensive side among all the teams of the major European leagues participating in the 2019-20 Champions League.
THE ATALANTINE PRIDE Lara Cavagna, volleyball player for over twenty-five years in Serie B in the province of Bergamo and an Atalantine fan confessed: "Yesterday I was at home and I thought .. but how can I celebrate for a football game tonight? With all that's going on? With hospitals full of people who are sick and people who work day and night .. but Atalanta is not football .. or rather not only .. Atalanta is a creed for us from Bergamo .. it is a faith .. it's a sense of belonging .. and never like last night have I felt the pride of being part of all this .. as a sportswoman, from Atalanta, from Bergamo and from Italy .. because the goddess is an example for everyone right now. how something really big can come from something really small. And I love her, I love those guys who gave us a dream and two hours of joy in the midst of all this.”
THE FUTURE But what does it mean to hit the Champions League quarter-finals after the suspension of the Serie A Championship, in a rarefied atmosphere that leaves room for a thousand doubts? “A provincial that achieves this result, without having huge financial investments or a top player that makes the difference behind it, is already news in itself - explains De Santis - but the attitude seen also yesterday evening is that of a team that he wants to continue the adventure, which attacks, which amuses. There are some teams that seem certain of another level, such as Barcelona or Real Madrid, but in front of Leipzig, Naples or Juventus in the event of a move, Atalanta could have its say."
GASPERINI And in a team that is not based on the single star talent like Messi or Ronaldo on duty, the coach seems to be the leitmotif of a reality that continues to settle among the top positions in Serie A. "In the fourth, seventh order, third and also in this season at the moment among the top four, always signed by Gasperini - recalls De Sanctis - this coach has many merits, just think of the exaltation of Ilicic (author of the 4 goals last night) and Papu Gomez, who are no longer kids, thanks to the choral game. This is Gasp's Atalanta, a coach who manages to get excited in the medium to long term by finding important results, as shown in Genoa, where he remains a guru."
THE ATHLETES With the new decree Atalanta goes on training in a climate specially designed and specially protected in Zingonia: “From there not even a pin enters, the team is pampered in what looks like a hospital in the hospital - concludes De Sanctis - the next round could be the Champions League quarter-finals on April 7-8, but there are a lot of questions."
And even if the coronavirus forces UEFA to suspend the Champions League, Atalanta would have achieved extraordinary success. But Bergamo 'mola mia', never gives up. Bergamo wants more. And we are confident that they will soon be able to celebrate as they deserves with the people on the streets and the pride of having won the most complicated battle of the moment. In their hospitals with doctors and nurses as forward players.
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