Agnelli – “not right” for Atalanta to be in the Champions League

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Juventus president Andrea Agnelli believes that one season of success should not grant the likes of Atalanta access to the prestigious Champions League.

Atalanta was almost unheard of before last season’s amazing exploits in Serie A.
Following stints in Italy’s lower divisions, they have faced constant battles against relegation. However, in the 2018/19 season they shocked everyone by finishing third in Serie A.
This entitled the Italian minnows to a place in the Champions League.
Many expected them to fail miserably in arguably one of the toughest competitions in football. However, the Orobici La Dea have proven all their doubters wrong.
They qualified for the knockout stages from a group that contained Manchester City, Shakhtar Donetsk, and Dinamo Zagreb.
They are now on the verge of reaching the quarter-finals. After taking a 4-1 lead in the first game of the round of 16 against Valencia.
The mighty Juventus, on the other hand, are regulars in the competition and face elimination as they trail Lyon 1-0 from their first leg.
The Bianconeri president Agnelli feels that Atalanta is not worthy of being in the same league as them.
In an interview reported by Goal, Agnelli a staunch advocate of a European Super League insists that based on Atalanta’s lack of history “it’s not right” to have them in the Champions League.
He said:
“I have great respect for everything that Atalanta are doing.”
“But without international history and thanks to just one great season, they had direct access into the primary European club competition.”
“Is that right or not?”
“Then I think of Roma, who contributed in recent years of maintaining Italy’s ranking.”
“They had one bad season and are out, with all the consequent damage to them financially.”
“We must also protect investment and costs.”
“So would Atalanta, therefore, have less chance of playing at a high level?”

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