Montenegrin striker Nikola Krstović They will try to break a bad streak of goalless games on the "hot" field at the Velodrome in Marseille and, who knows, maybe save the coach. Ivan Jurić.
Some Italian media reported two days ago that the away game against Olympique Marseille might be crucial for the Croatian coach on the bench of Atalanta. "The Goddess" is on a six-game winless streak, but only suffered its first defeat in Serie A on Sunday in Udine.
Krstović, on the other hand, has not scored a goal in the last eight matches, in which Jurić has dosed his playing time - either substituting him early in the second half or bringing him off the bench.
In the match announcement, Jurić resolutely rejected claims that Atalanta is in crisis.
"In football, there are many components that can prevent you from winning games. There was a drop in intensity against Udinese, we hope that mistake will not be repeated," Jurić described the first defeat.
"Boginja", however, is only 11th in Serie A, with only two wins in the past ten rounds (seven draws), and has a variable performance in the Champions League - win, draw and loss.
"To those who write that we are playing poorly, I would like to tell them to watch our games a little more carefully. That's all they need to do. We played great against Milan and Lazio. I told the team to continue to grow on what we have already built, which has been positive, because we have been unlucky so far," added Jurić.
Krstović scored twice against Torino on September 21st, his only goals for Atalanta. The Montenegrin is expected to play at the Velodrome against Marseille, who have one win and two losses - whether he will start or come off the bench is another question.
"People are trying to create a situation that doesn't exist. I talk to the club directors, we are always in contact and nothing special happened. I really believe we had some great games, we just didn't get the results we deserved. But sometimes people can be malicious and don't assess things properly," Jurić added.
While Atalanta is looking for wins, Krstović for goals, Manchester City, and especially Erling Haaland, they don't have that problem.
Team Pep Guardiola welcomes Borussia Dortmund in the most sensational match of the evening, and the Norwegian wants to continue the series against his former team.
Haaland has scored 26 goals in all competitions for City and the national team this season, taking his career tally to 327.
It's still far from Leo the Messiah (892) and esp Cristiano Ronaldo (952), but there is time. Haaland, however, does not compare himself to the greatest.
"I'm far away. No one can get close to them," Haaland said.
In the 2022/2023 season, his first at City since joining from Borussia, he scored 56 goals, which was his most effective season.
With 98 goals in 107 Premier League games, he is close to becoming the fastest footballer to score 100 goals in the English top flight.
Former England captain Alan Shearer He has scored 100 goals in 124 games and is the PL's leading scorer with 260. Shearer said last month that Haaland has a brilliant chance to break the record.
"What record? I don't want to be arrogant. I'm on the right track, but I'm not thinking about it," Haaland said.
"I don't know the records, but I know this one (Shearer's in the Premier League). I don't think about that. The last thing on my mind is thinking about records, I'm trying to help the team win. That's my job and my main goal. I know it's boring, I know you want me to say the exact opposite, but that's the way it is. I have to ignore them," the Norwegian said.
He also scored 53 goals in 51 games in the Champions League, which he won with City, along with the Premier League and the FA Cup.
"I've been the same person for as long as I can remember. Nothing has changed. In some situations I'm still the same kid, I'm still the same kid from Brynn but with more life experience. I'm Norwegian and I shouldn't think I'm something just because I score goals. I'm just Erling and that's something that will never change," said Haaland, who is trying to help Norway qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1998.
"I've been saying this for a long time, my goal is to take Norway to the World and European Championships. That's the main goal in my career and now I have a good opportunity to do it, it's about taking advantage of the opportunities," he said.
Haaland said he is becoming a better striker.
"I feel good, I take good care of myself and I am developing well," he said.
Pairs: Paphos - Villarreal, Qarabag - Chelsea (18), Ajax - Galatasaray, Benfica - Bayer Leverkusen, Club Brugge - Barcelona, Inter - Kairat, Manchester City - Borussia Dortmund, Marseille - Atalanta, Newcastle - Athletic Bilbao (21 p.m.).
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