FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
Even on the eve of the big party, Atalanta does not forget its roots. The journey began eight years ago, with the arrival of Gian Piero Gasperini, and culminated in the historic Europa League victory in Dublin.
A special moment for all the residents of Bergamo, but above all for three footballers who have lived this journey on their own skin: De Roon, Toloi and Djimsiti. The three together raised the long-awaited trophy, a strange celebration, but one that has an explanation that touches the heartstrings.
First of all, they are the three captains of Atalanta. The one who comes out more often on the field with a bandage on his arm is De Roon, who, in a bad twist of fate, could not participate in the Europa League final due to injury.
A lack that would torment him, but he was able to fill it by always being close to his teammates, even on the bench against Bayer Leverkusen. Behind him in the hierarchy are Toloi and Djimsiti, the latter designated as captain by Gasperini for the match against the German champions.
All three embody the perfect spirit of Atalanta and in all aspects are the cornerstones of this team. They were there at the dawn of the project, when the coach led the players of the Bergamo team for the first time.
In the Coppa Italia debut against Cremonese, in the third round, played on 13 August 2016, Toloi was on the field (also the scorer of the first goal), Djimsiti on the bench, while De Roon had flown to Middlesbrough for a season , before making his remarkable return to Bergamo and staying there to write history.
That's why, with the delivery of the Europa League, James City decided not to raise the trophy alone in the Dublin sky, as always happens in these circumstances, where it is the captain who has the honor of starting the official celebrations.
On the stage next to him wanted Toloi, who entered the field during the match, and De Roon, who followed the match from the bench, but was always present spiritually, at every moment, despite the injury that did not prevent him from leaving the team.
At the crucial moment, the hands of the three captains were on the trophy. They were the ones who lifted it up, together, as they have done for eight years now, representing the same shirt, the black one. A gesture that was immediately noticed by everyone and gave another meaning to this historic triumph.
They, more than anyone, know what it means to be part of Atalanta and what it means to fall before you triumph. This is the speech Djimsiti gave to his team before the game, reminding everyone (especially the other two captains) where they come from:
" Before the match we said among ourselves: we are losers, we have lost three finals. Losing the fourth, the most important, is forbidden. Now that we won the Europa League, we don't care about the three lost finals ."
⚫️???? #Atalanta | Era giusto che la alzassero loro three, insieme: Berat, Marten, Rafa. Il gruppo storico.
— Giorgio Dusi (@Gio_Dusi) May 23, 2024
"Prima della partita ci siam detti 'siamo dei loser, abbiam perso tre finali'." Non potevam perdere anche la quarta, la più importante. Ora non mi frega nulla delle tre perse" pic.twitter.com/yXLCs1U7QM
Lini një Përgjigje