The resounding feeling from players and managers in Italy is that Atalanta has a good chance of beating Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal. Many know that the Serie A side is the clear underdog heading into the fixture, but the belief is that an upset could be in the works.
Many have their own reasoning as to why Atalanta could pull off what would be one of the greatest wins from an Italian team in years. Whether for injuries or simply because of Atalanta’s current form, many backing Atalanta have their opinion on just what could end being the deciding factor in the single-legged fixture. For current Italian national team manager Roberto Mancini, he is fueling the PSG injury storyline.
In speaking to La Gazzetta dell Sport, Mancini talked about the multitude of injuries that the reigning Ligue 1 champions are dealing with and why Atalanta could have the edge in the contest.
“First, let’s think about PSG, which is a great team and has more experience at the highest level,” Mancini said. “They are certainly not at the top. They lost Cavani, they will not have Di Maria, Verratti and Mbappe are more than in doubt. Their championship ended in March. And Atalanta has everything it takes to play the quarterfinals with confidence.”
Manager Thomas Tuchel will face a grand test now that several key players may likely be ruled out for the contest.
Want more PSG? Visit the PSG Talk Podcast Network page and subscribe to PSG Talking, The 1970, and 24th & Parc.