Sarri calls the calendar absurd after Raspadori limps off. Milan are next
Atalanta had just won their Conference League opener 3-1 and Maurizio Sarri wanted to talk about the calendar. "Siamo sottoposti a un calendario assurdo con tutte le conseguenze del caso," he told Sky Sport Italia after Giacomo Raspadori, who had scored a penalty, went off injured, Tuttosport reports.
- Raspadori scored from the spot and was substituted in the first half; Football Italia reports a relapse of a flexor problem from September's international duty.
- Sarri said a formal complaint should go to UEFA or the league and was surprised the Italian players' association "non dice niente" (says nothing).
- Atalanta are tenth in Serie A with 9 points from 6 games and visit Milan, fifth on 12, on Sunday.
The win itself was routine. Eljif Elmas scored inside the first minute, Raspadori converted a penalty and Gianluca Scamacca added a third before half-time; Pafos only scored late, through Biel. Sarri called it a good night: "Stasera non abbiamo concesso praticamente nulla se non quel gol alla fine", he said, and "il divario tecnico si è visto".
Then he turned to the injuries. "Sono troppi per tutti, non solo per noi," he said, too many for everyone, not only for Atalanta. "Bisognerebbe fare un esposto alla Uefa o alla Lega, i giocatori sono sottoposti a un calendario assurdo e illogico," according to Tuttosport; Sky Sport's version names FIFA as well. His biggest surprise, he added, was that the players' association stays silent.
Behind the scenes, the worry is Raspadori's history rather than one bad landing. Football Italia reports the problem is a relapse of the flexor injury he picked up with Italy in September, and the club has not yet said how long he will be out. Sarri also talked about the bigger picture, calling Atalanta "a model" club and admitting he does not know what his first season can bring, only that the target is medium to long term.
The table explains the pressure. Atalanta are tenth with 9 points from six games, seven behind leaders Inter and Lazio. What happens next: Milan v Atalanta on Sunday, 18 October, at 18:00 CEST, and a medical update on Raspadori before then.
A fair complaint that doubles as an alibi
Our editorial team thinks Sarri is right about the calendar and still chose his moment carefully. Saying it after a 3-1 win, three days before San Siro, prepares everyone for a weakened Atalanta on Sunday. If he gets a result at Milan without Raspadori, the complaint will read as principle; if Atalanta lose, it will read as the excuse he wrote in advance.
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