Atalanta director Giuntoli discusses team preparation and Sarri

Atalanta sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli has addressed the club’s current development and the challenges facing manager Maurizio Sarri. In an interview with Sky Sport, Giuntoli noted that the team’s preparation has been delayed due to several factors, including the impact of the World Cup on international players, a prolonged transfer window, and commitments in the Conference League preliminary rounds.

Giuntoli expressed full confidence in Sarri, describing the manager as a perfectionist who is “always worried because he cares a lot.” While acknowledging that the team needs time to reach its optimal standard, Giuntoli emphasized that the club is not seeking patience as an excuse, but rather as a necessity for building a competitive squad under the ownership of Steve Pagliuca and CEO Percassi.

Reflecting on his career, Giuntoli compared his current role to his previous experiences at Napoli and Juventus, stating that while his time at Napoli allowed him significant room for expression, he is now focused on the long-term project at Atalanta.