Maurizio Sarri has heaped praise on Franck Kessie’s leadership qualities after the midfielder opened the scoring in Atalanta’s 3-1 victory over Venezia, a crucial result that brings a halt to a frustrating run of three consecutive defeats in Serie A. Kessie, who returned to Bergamo this summer following a five-year stint with Milan earlier in his career, lobbed goalkeeper Filip Stankovic to set the tone for a dominant first-half display at the New Balance Arena.
Sarri Applauds Kessie’s Dressing Room Influence
Speaking to the press after the match via TuttoMercatoWeb, Atalanta coach Maurizio Sarri emphasized that Kessie’s impact extends far beyond his technical abilities on the pitch. The veteran tactician pointed to the Ivorian midfielder’s strong character as an essential asset for the squad.
“He’s a lad with great personality, and you could see that on the pitch,” Sarri remarked. “Lads like that are rare, and that’s an important detail in the dressing room.”
Kessie himself remained humble when speaking to DAZN following the final whistle, turning the focus back toward collective targets and looking ahead to an upcoming emotional reunion. “We’re happy with the win, as we were coming off three defeats. It was important and we did it,” Kessie said. Addressing his future domestic schedule, the midfielder added regarding a trip back to his former stomping ground: “Returning to San Siro? Always ready.”
First-Half Brilliance Overshadowed by Second-Half Slump
Atalanta appeared to be cruising to an effortless victory after establishing a commanding 3-0 lead inside the opening half-hour, courtesy of Kessie’s opener and a quickfire double from Nikola Krstovic. However, Sarri did not hide his frustration regarding his side’s performance after the interval.
“We played a first half of a high level,” Sarri explained. “In the second half we stopped pressing them in their half, and at certain moments we paid for it. We were sloppy playing out from the back and left them the upper hand, and in the final minutes we weren’t very clean either.”
The manager’s concerns were compounded by disciplinary issues and fitness setbacks. Eljif Elmas received a straight red card after a VAR review upgraded an initial yellow for a reckless challenge, ruling the midfielder out of Sunday’s upcoming fixture away to Milan. Meanwhile, defenders Raoul Bellanova and Giorgio Scalvini were both forced off mid-way through the second half, with Bellanova suffering from glute pain and Scalvini requiring further medical assessment.
Tactical Adjustments and Conference League Focus
Sarri opted for a 4-2-3-1 formation to start the match, deploying Krstovic ahead of Gianluca Scamacca to inject more attacking depth, though he later reverted to his preferred 4-3-3 shape. Winger Jonathan Rowe delivered a productive 60-minute shift before fading, with Sarri noting that the young forward still possesses significant room for development.
With a Conference League fixture against Pafos looming on Thursday, Sarri has urged his players to replicate their disciplined first-half intensity across full 90-minute stretches. “We have to try to be in control of the game for long spells. The attitude in the first half was right,” he concluded.
Key Takeaways From Atalanta’s Victory Over Venezia
- Franck Kessie scored his first Serie A goal since returning to Atalanta, netting the opener in a 3-1 win.
- Manager Maurizio Sarri publicly praised Kessie’s rare personality and strong presence in the dressing room.
- Kessie declared himself “always ready” ahead of a future return to San Siro.
- Eljif Elmas was sent off late in the game, missing Sunday’s trip to Milan.
- Atalanta turn their attention to a Conference League clash against Pafos on Thursday.