Maurizio Sarri commended Franck Kessie’s character after the midfielder found the net in Atalanta’s 3-1 win against Venezia, which brought an end to a three-match losing sequence. The Ivorian broke the deadlock before Nikola Krstovic added two more goals, handing Atalanta a strong cushion within the first thirty minutes.
Kessie, who came back to Atalanta during the summer after five campaigns with Milan earlier in his career, also spoke about a possible return to San Siro. In his post-match remarks, the midfielder made clear he would be prepared for the moment.
Sarri highlights Kessie’s character and impact
During his post-match press conference at the New Balance Arena, Sarri stressed Kessie’s value to the side, noting traits that go beyond what he delivers on the field.
“He’s a lad with great personality, and you could see that on the pitch. Lads like that are rare, and that’s an important detail in the dressing room,” the Atalanta coach said, with his comments reported by TuttoMercatoWeb.
Kessie, for his part, concentrated on the significance of halting the losing run rather than his own milestone. He recognised the challenges of adjusting to a new formation but underlined the importance of following the coach’s directions and giving everything for the group.
“It’s always nice to score, but for me the team matters,” he told DAZN. The midfielder also shared his happiness for Krstovic, whose two goals could help the striker grow in confidence.
When asked about going back to San Siro, Kessie offered a short, assured reply: “Always ready.”
Atalanta’s second-half display worries Sarri
Even with the clear result, Sarri was not completely pleased with Atalanta’s performance. His side dictated the first period and built a three-goal advantage, but the coach believed they let the game slip after the break.
“In the second half we stopped pressing them in their half, and at certain moments we paid for it,” Sarri explained. He also questioned the team’s build-up play, stating they were sloppy when playing out from the back and let Venezia take control.
The coach was also dissatisfied with Atalanta’s execution in the final stages, though he did not view the display as poor as it may have seemed. Curiously, he thought the team looked more energetic after the sending-off.
“We need to be braver,” Sarri added, pointing to more courage and control as areas to improve before the team’s next match.
Elmas’s red card and Atalanta injury worries
Eljif Elmas was dismissed late in the game after VAR upgraded his yellow card following a reckless tackle. The red card means the midfielder will be unavailable for Sunday’s trip to Milan, a major loss as Atalanta gets ready for the San Siro meeting.
Sarri made little effort to defend the call, hinting that Elmas could have avoided the challenge entirely. The incident deepened the coach’s concerns after Raoul Bellanova and Giorgio Scalvini were both taken off midway through the second half.
Bellanova was dealing with pain in his glute, while Scalvini’s condition still needed evaluation. Sarri did not give a definitive update on either player’s availability.
The coach will therefore need to keep an eye on the situation as Atalanta heads into a packed run of fixtures, with their next assignment coming against Pafos in the Conference League on Thursday.
Sarri explains Atalanta’s formation and selection decisions
Sarri started the match with a 4-2-3-1 setup, choosing Krstovic ahead of Gianluca Scamacca. Atalanta later switched back to their usual 4-3-3 system, with the coach calling the initial shape an alternative the team can use.
He clarified that the choice to start Krstovic came from a wish for more depth in attack, while Elmas was picked to add balance. The striker repaid his selection by scoring twice in the first half.
Sarri also reviewed Jonathan Rowe’s display, commending his contribution during the first hour but noting the winger still has plenty of room to grow.
“He did well for 60 minutes, then faded. In my opinion, he has a lot of room for improvement,” the coach said.
With Pafos up next, Sarri wants Atalanta to replicate the attitude they displayed before half-time and keep control for longer spells. He also suggested that the scoreline shaped his approach to substitutions, explaining that he would have made several changes had his team stretched the lead to 4-1.
The challenge now is to bring that first-half intensity into Thursday’s European fixture while fixing the lapses that let Venezia back into the game.