“Atalanta believes in us” after their 9th win

epa11761239 Ademola Lookman of Atalanta celebrates after scoring the goal 2-1 during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Atalanta BC and AC Milan in Bergamo, Italy on December 06, 2024. EPA-EFE/MICHELE MARAVIGLIA

Ademola Lookman says Atalanta “believes in us” and is ready for the AFCON award, while Marco Carnesecchi encourages fans to “keep dreaming of the Scudetto” after victory against Milan.

La Dea really are the best team in Serie A at the moment as this was their ninth win in a row and they are temporarily at the top of the table awaiting Napoli’s game against Lazio on Sunday.

Charles De Ketelaere rose to nod a free-kick at the back post against his former club, while Lookman remained unmolested and parried a similar set-piece for a late winner, round Alvaro Morata’s equaliser.

“It’s a very important game against a very strong team that is doing well in the league. We performed well tonight, got three big points and that’s how we carry on,” Lookman told Sky Sport Italia after the 2-1 win.

“I think we just keep playing the way we play, game by game. We believe in ourselves as a team, so let’s keep going and stay together.”

Lookman was named man of the match against Milan, but the Nigeria international is also the hot favorite to win the African Player of the Year award.

“It is an honor to be nominated for this prestigious award. Of course, everyone who is nominated wants to win it. It’s a dream!”

Lookman and Carnesecchi encourage Atalanta fans

Goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi stood next to Lookman during the post-match interview and saw more maturity at Atalanta.

“It’s a fantastic performance, a very close game decided by incidents. “We controlled the game against Roma very well in our own way, and we did the same tonight, which is a very important way of managing the game in such a long season,” noted Carnesecchi.

“Now we face Real Madrid and hope to qualify early for the round of 16.”

The fans in Bergamo sang about the Scudetto. So are players finally accepting that they’re in the running?

“We’re really in great shape at the moment so it’s only right that the fans can dream and we can dream with them. We already saw last season that we can have a say. So the more we stick together, the better we can be.”

Atalanta won the Europa League last season, the first major title for the club under Gian Piero Gasperini.