Juric: ‘Atalanta created 15 chances in 2 games with no goals’

Ivan Juric admits Atalanta are frustrated at their 0-0 Champions League draw with Slavia Prague. ‘In the last two games, we had 15 clear-cut scoring opportunities and didn’t score.’

La Dea showed exactly the same problems that have plagued them all season in this evening’s deeply disappointing 0-0 draw with Slavia Prague.

They had 21 attempts on goal and 52 attacks, but failed to find the net, wasting golden opportunities with several different strikers.

Ademola Lookman, Nikola Krstovic, Gianluca Scamacca and Kamaldeen Sulemana all missed big chances for what is their first Champions League stalemate, but an all too familiar result in Serie A.

“In the last two games, I think we had 15 clear-cut scoring opportunities in every way, headers, counter-attacks, shots,” Juric told Sky Sport Italia.

“On the one hand, you are happy to create this many chances, as it means you are doing something right to get yourself into these positions, on the other clearly something isn’t working in the final third.

“It’s just a period like that, we are struggling to score goals. We have to think positive, as when you create this many chances, you will get a breakthrough sooner or later. I am mainly disappointed for the lads, the fans and the club, because we do so much at a high level and don’t make it count. That makes you sad.”

There was some good news with the return of Scamacca from another long-term injury, although he had a free header over the bar from six yards.

Are Atalanta perhaps missing the determination and movement of a player like Mateo Retegui, who was after all Capocannoniere of Serie A last season?

“I think Scamacca is a great talent and he has barely played in over a year, so it will take time to get him to 100 per cent,” noted Juric.

“I feel bad for Krstovic, who is doing so many positive things and has been unlucky with the goals. There’s no point thinking about the past, we have to focus on the players we have now, and they are all talented enough to score goals.”

With four points from three games in the Champions League, Atalanta sit in 17th place, so at the very top of the unseeded spots of the knockout phase play-offs.