Juric: ‘Atalanta will face PSG with courage, were clear with Lookman’ | OneFootball

Atalanta coach Ivan Juric warns they need ‘courage’ against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, but shrugs off Ademola Lookman questions. ‘We spoke to him clearly.’

The showdown kicks off at Parc des Princes on Wednesday at 20.00 UK time (19.00 GMT).

While Luis Enrique’s Paris Saint-Germain are setting out to defend their Champions League trophy, it is the first ever game in this competition for new Dea boss Juric.

Juric hints at Atalanta approach with PSG

BERGAMO, ITALY – AUGUST 24: Ivan Juric, Head Coach of Atalanta BC looks on during the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and Pisa SC at Gewiss Stadium on August 24, 2025 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Scaccianoce/Getty Images)

“We are concentrated on how to prepare the game, so at this moment I am not feeling much emotion,” assured Juric on Sky Sport Italia.

“I am curious to see the opponent who deservedly was crowned the best team in Europe. We prepared well to face them and hope to have a great performance. We need courage, we know their strengths are in passing the ball and using their pace in attack.

“However, we’ve seen they tend to struggle more against teams who sit a little deeper, rather than those who face them openly.”

Atalanta have stuttered so far in Serie A, drawing both their opening matches against Pisa and Parma before sweeping Lecce aside 4-1.

There are also some injury problems, as Ederson, Gianluca Scamacca and Sead Kolasinac are still out of action, along with long-term absentee Mitchel Bakker.

“We have many young players who can do well, so I feel confident,” added the coach.

“We deserved more in the other matches, but didn’t get the results to reflect the performance. Against Lecce, we combined good football with goals and the victory, so we needed that confidence booster to go into this game.”

MILAN, ITALY – APRIL 20: Ademola Lookman of Atalanta reacts during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Atalanta at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on April 20, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Inevitably, Atalanta’s preparations are overshadowed by the on-going controversy around Lookman, who spent the summer trying to force an exit to Inter, then had to limp back to Bergamo.

His attitude in training did not impress the club, with Juric insisting he “should not have to beg” for the Nigerian to play.

“We are relaxed, we already spoke to him clearly, so we just want to focus on tomorrow’s match,” concluded the coach.

Lookman has been left out of the travelling party to Paris, which landed this evening.