Atalanta kept up very well with the stars of Real Madrid for more than a half, but then things went wrong for the Italians in the UEFA Super Cup. Midfielder Marten de Roon spoke after the match about the good feeling from the first half and the bad feeling he was left with due to the absence of his friend Teun Koopmeiners.
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Koopmeiners and the Atalanta management recently found themselves at odds over a potential transfer to Juventus.
This situation quickly escalated when the Dutch international midfielder, feeling frustrated by the unresolved negotiations, called in sick and stopped participating in training sessions in Northern Italy. This led to his absence during a crucial match against Real Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup, held in Poland on Wednesday.
His absence was keenly felt by both the team and his close friend and teammate, Marten de Roon. De Roon expressed his disappointment in an interview with Ziggo Sport, stating, "It's really unfortunate that he's not here. I know he's also disappointed. The whole situation is unpleasant. I talk to him a lot, and it's not easy. I hope it’s resolved soon, that the whole situation is quickly sorted out. For us, it's tough because we're missing a great player, and for him, because I know he’d rather be on the field."
The situation has cast a shadow over what should have been an exciting time for Atalanta as they prepared to face one of Europe's most formidable teams. Despite the off-field distractions, De Roon was given the responsibility of captaining the team in Koopmeiners' absence, a role that saw him carry the Europa League trophy onto the field, a symbolic gesture of the club's recent successes and ambitions.
As the match unfolded, Atalanta initially held their own against the star-studded lineup of Real Madrid, with De Roon noting that the first half had given the team hope. "You always consider the possibility of losing the match beforehand, especially against Real Madrid. But the first half gave a good feeling, that there was something to be gained," De Roon reflected. This cautious optimism, however, was not enough to carry them through the entire match.
In the second half, Atalanta's fortunes took a turn for the worse. De Roon lamented the missed opportunity early after the break, which he believed could have changed the course of the game. "Maybe that's the danger against this team. It's a shame that our first chance after the break didn't go in; it would have been a very different match," he explained. Ultimately, Real Madrid's quality and experience proved too much for the Italians, leading to what De Roon described as a "well-deserved victory" for the Spanish giants.
As rumors now swirl about an agreement being reached between Atalanta and Juventus, it seems that Koopmeiners' transfer saga may finally be nearing its conclusion. The timing of this resolution, however, comes a week too late for De Roon, who would have much preferred to have his friend and teammate by his side during the Super Cup showdown. Reflecting on the situation, De Roon acknowledged that while Atalanta could have certainly benefited from Koopmeiners' presence on the pitch, the outcome of the match might not have changed. Still, the unresolved transfer situation added an extra layer of frustration to what was already a challenging fixture.
With the transfer potentially moving forward, Atalanta will soon have to adjust to life without one of their key midfielders. The team's ability to adapt and fill the void left by Koopmeiners will be crucial as they continue their domestic and European campaigns. Meanwhile, Koopmeiners himself will be looking to settle into his new environment at Juventus, where he will face the challenge of integrating into one of Italy's top clubs and meeting the high expectations that come with such a move.
Updated: 09:52, 15 Aug 2024
