This Wednesday at 9 p.m. (CET), Paris Saint-Germain will face Atalanta at the Parc des Princes in the opening match of the 2025–2026 Champions League group stage. In a press conference, Ivan Jurić, coach of the Italian club, spoke about the game and the Parisian opponent.
Jurić: “I’m curious to see PSG play”
“There’s a focus on how best to prepare for the match. There’s no fear — I’m curious to see PSG play because it’s the best team in the world. We’ve prepared well; we’ll try to produce our best performance. You face Paris with courage — they have dribbling ability and danger in attack. Scamacca and Ederson are out, but we have plenty of players ready and eager to do well.”
Jurić: “We have to avoid their first pressing phase”
“If we manage to withstand their offensive firepower and exceptional pressing, find our way into space, then we can achieve things. But we have to avoid their first pressing phase. They have very few weaknesses — but there are some, and it will be up to us to exploit them. We have to be perfect defensively and try to surprise them when we get the chance.”
On Lookman’s absence:
“We’re calm; we’ve already talked about it. We’re focused on tomorrow’s match.”
Ivan Jurić’s words perfectly illustrate how Atalanta are approaching this daunting trip to Paris. Despite the absences of Gianluca Scamacca, Ederson and Ademola Lookman, the Croatian coach refuses to give in to pessimism. Instead, he emphasizes curiosity and enthusiasm at the prospect of measuring his side against what he considers the pinnacle of world football. For Jurić, Paris Saint-Germain represents a fearsome attacking force built on dribbling and spontaneity. This perspective shows that, even weakened, Atalanta will come to the Parc des Princes with no inferiority complex and the determination to play courageously. Whether this philosophy will be enough against a PSG expected to show European ambition remains to be seen.
