Bergamo, Sunday 25 January 2026 – Carlos Cuesta's words after Atalanta vs Parma on Matchday 22 of the Serie A season.
'The game didn’t go our way. It’s true that we weren’t as solid as we usually are, and we made too many mistakes. Those errors left us exposed and ultimately handed the momentum to Atalanta. It’s a heavy defeat, one that leaves a very bitter feeling.
Now we have to face reality and be honest about what happened today, and take from it everything we need to improve. We weren’t compact enough, we didn’t win our duels or tackles when we were put under pressure, and we gave them too much space. Even so, I believe in my players more than ever, and I’m convinced we’ll come back stronger and better prepared for Sunday’s match.
If you look at the four goals, the first came from a set piece rebound just a few metres from our goal, which then led to the penalty. The second came from a mistake in our build-up play, which allowed Atalanta to counter and score. We’d actually started well, pushing our defensive line high to try to create chances, but in the end it wasn’t enough.
The key is doing the right things. It’s not about being more aggressive or more compact, but about making the right decisions. In matches like this, with a lot of space and plenty of duels, you have to be extremely precise, otherwise you pay a heavy price. In the second half we managed to get forward more and create more chances, but we couldn’t find the goal that might have changed the momentum. The third goal came from a long ball where we lost the duel, allowing them to attack the space and score. The fourth came from a set piece when we were down to ten men after Valenti pulled a muscle.
There are no excuses — only mistakes that need to be corrected straight away. We have to stay humble and fully focused on the things we must do well. The defensive phase is fundamental for us, and we need to remain concentrated in that area.
I believe in these players more than ever. I know this is a tough moment for us and for the fans, and we’re sorry. On Sunday we’ll need their support to give absolutely everything. We came here looking for points; now we have to turn this disappointment into positive energy and growth.
As for the line-up, we had a few minor physical issues that influenced our decisions. We always try to make the best choices, but today our performance wasn’t enough to get a result. In the end, the gap was quite clear.'
