De Roon: ‘Thrilling to play at Old Trafford’
Atalanta midfielder Marten De Roon is looking forward to playing at Old Trafford and says La Dea will cope without five key players.
Atalanta visit Manchester United in their third group stage game tomorrow.
It kicks off at 20.00 UK time.
La Dea are the Group F leaders with four points in the opening two Serie A games.
The Serie A side must cope without their captain Rafael Toloi as well as Matteo Pessina, Berat Djimsiti, Robin Gosens and Hans Hateboer, but De Roon believes Atalanta will find a way to replace them.
“We have improved in every aspect and when we play these games and there is very little to say,” the Dutchman said at a press conference.
“I’ve been here for five years with many other players. There is not one captain only. There are more, we talk together and have fun. We’re all captains.”
Atalanta play in the Champions League for the third season in a row. On Sunday, they beat Empoli 4-1 in Serie A.
“When you play in Europe, you face clubs that are accustomed to win and attack. We can learn a lot. A team like ours, where only a few players had played in the Champions League before, has really improved a lot.
“We played a good game at Empoli,” the former Middlesbrough added.
“We made the right passes and I liked Mario Pasalic’s assists. We can still improve. We always struggle a little at the beginning of every season.”
Atalanta sit sixth in Serie A with 14 points in eight games, just as many as Juventus and Lazio.
Gian Piero Gasperini’s side is just one point off fourth-placed Roma.
They host Udinese at the Gewiss Stadium on Sunday before travelling to Sampdoria.
The reverse fixture against Manchester United is scheduled for November 2 in Bergamo.