Napoli coach Maurizio Sarri appreciates the threat Atalanta pose ahead of their Serie A meeting in Bergamo on Sunday afternoon.
The Azzurri are hoping they are back on track after a shock defeat to Bologna earlier in the month curtailed their progress.
“We have put our defeat to Bologna behind us, after all we have won seven of our last nine games,” Sarri told reporters during his pre-match press conference.
“Playing against Atalanta will be difficult as it always is in Bergamo, there is a great rivalry between both sides but we know what we have to do.”
The Partenopei are currently third in Serie A with, like the league leaders Inter, only two defeats in their last 16 competitive games.
“This team has already scored 44 goals this season, other times we struggle to score. Atalanta will be aware of this fact,” he added.
“Atalanta like to destroy the patterns of play, making it difficult. I have to decide whether [Manolo] Gabbiadini will be fit in time.
“We are doing better than expected this season, the players know the difficulty Atalanta can pose and the hostile environment.”
Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has declared his intention to work in tandem with Sarri in the upcoming transfer window.
“I haven’t spoken to the president yet, my job is to improve the players at my disposal,” the former Empoli boss continued.
“To do more this season would be to win every game. However, we are always looking to improve,” Sarri concluded.
Source: forzaitalianfootball.com