UNACCEPTABLE: RAFFAELE PALLADINO RIPS ATALANTA AFTER SHOCK LOSS 3-1 AND VAR FURY
Atalanta coach Raffaele Palladino was furious after the 3-1 loss to last-place Verona, calling the performance "unacceptable" and blaming a poor team attitude.
After Atalanta's 3-1 loss to Hellas Verona, coach Raffaele Palladino was angry, partly because of a disputed penalty call, but mostly at his own team. He said the performance was unacceptable.
Verona's third goal was especially controversial. Lazar Samardzic was complaining about a possible handball by Armel Bella-Kotchap when Verona launched a counterattack, and Antoine Bernede scored.
The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) looked at the play and decided that while Bella-Kotchap did lean toward the ball, his fingertips didn't touch it enough to change its direction. So, they didn't advise the referee to review his decision on the field.
Palladino was shocked by the loss.
"I usually don't talk about referees because everyone makes mistakes, but the touch was too obvious," Palladino told Sky Sport Italia.
You could clearly see the touch. VAR was supposed to make things simpler, but it's making them more complex by talking about whether the ball changed direction or not. Why does that matter? It's obvious his fingertips touched the ball. That changed the game. Their third goal should have been disallowed, and we could have had a penalty to make it 2-1.
Atalanta seemed to be on a roll with three wins in a row in Serie A, the Champions League, and the Coppa Italia.
So, they didn't expect to be down 3-0 at Verona, especially against a team that was last in the standings and hadn't won a single game all season.
Rafik Belghali, Giovane, and Bernede scored for Verona. Gianluca Scamacca's late penalty wasn't enough to change things.
Our first half was really bad, so we take responsibility and apologize to our fans. "We didn't understand what kind of game we needed to play," Palladino admitted.
We knew Verona would be intense and focused on winning individual battles, since they have the least possession in Serie A this season. We knew they would play direct, vertical passes, but we had the wrong attitude. We didn't get that we had to adapt to their style.
We were slow. It's probably my fault for not getting them focused enough. Now we need to recover, see what went wrong, and make sure this doesn't happen again. By the time we reacted, it was too late.
We can only apologize to our fans because this was a chance to move up the table.
This wasn't the result Atalanta wanted before their Champions League game next week with Chelsea. The three previous wins made the loss sting even more, though maybe the upcoming big game was a distraction.
I really can't explain what happened. After the first half against Napoli, I saw good reactions. "I didn't see any signs that the team wasn't taking this seriously or that they were tired from the previous games," Palladino said.
If I had, I would have done something about it. It's hard to explain. We need to figure out what went wrong and get back to being the team we were in the last three games. This performance was too awful for Atalanta. We need to forget about it and move on.
I'm the leader, and I can't accept this. We need to have a winning attitude, not a losing one. This game might help us improve, because sometimes you need a wake-up call. But I need to make them understand that this isn't okay. I won't accept the wrong attitude or less intensity. We can lose, but not like this.
PULISIC HITS BACK: MILAN STAR SHUTS DOWN 2026 GOAL DROUGHT CONCERNS
"I haven't stopped dreaming." Christian Pulisic addresses his goal drought and the frustration of missing out on the Gold Cup squad.
Christian Pulisic isn’t holding back. When critics started questioning his recent form and worried about his 2026 goal drought, he shut them down, calling those concerns “bad questions". The AC Milan forward, fresh off his Time magazine cover, still trusts his ability to step up for the USMNT as they gear up to co-host the World Cup.
All eyes are on him.
The U.S. is set to share the stage for the 2026 World Cup, and Pulisic is set to become the go-to guy for the national team. Landing on the cover of Time isn’t something soccer stars from America get every day, and it just shows how big a deal he’s become, especially after proving himself in Europe. But right as people are finally giving him mainstream recognition, he’s under the microscope for not putting up his usual numbers in front of the goal.
He’s not fazed by the dip.
When Time asked about his goal drought and how he’s handling not scoring for club or country this year, Pulisic didn’t mince words; he’s not sweating it. “I plan on scoring goals. Such bad questions. I’m not concerned about it, man.” You can hear the confidence in his voice.
Dealing with the noise
Pulisic admits this stretch feels extra tough. Missing out on last June’s Gold Cup squad hurt him, mostly because he’s used to shutting people up with his play. “Normally, I just go out there and score, and that quiets everybody. Right now, I’m in my offseason, so everyone’s talking, and I can’t do anything about it. That’s what’s frustrating.”
For Pulisic, attacking is everything. “Going at the goal, creating attacks, that’s what I live for. Sure, you have to do all the other stuff: defend, run, whatever. That’s fine. But what really gives me joy is finding ways to score and actually scoring.”
Chasing the dream
The U.S. opens their World Cup run against Paraguay at the SoFi Stadium on June 12, and Pulisic will lead the team right here at home. He doesn’t like making big public predictions, but at 27, he keeps that childhood dream alive. “That’s just not how I work. But I’ll lie in bed and imagine myself holding the World Cup trophy. I did that when I was a kid, and I haven’t stopped. You need to believe. Why not?”
WHY DID LAUTARO MARTINEZ REJECT A CAREER-DEFINING MOVE TO THE PREMIER LEAGUE?
"I love Milan." Read why 28-year-old Lautaro Martinez rejected Manchester United and Arsenal to stay at the San Siro in 2026.
Inter captain Lautaro Martinez has clearly put an end to any speculation about leaving San Siro, making it known that he has no plans to entertain offers from Europe’s top clubs. Even with regular links to teams like Barcelona, Manchester United, and Arsenal, the Argentine forward is fully committed to what’s happening in Milan.
Martinez has been quite vocal about his dedication to Inter amid constant rumours about his future. Despite frequent connections to some of the biggest clubs on the continent, he insists there’s no reason for him to move on from the current Serie A champions.
Media reports have often tied him to Barcelona, PSG, Arsenal, and Manchester United. But through various transfer windows, Martinez has consistently pushed back on the idea of leaving Inter. At 28, he remains a key figure in the team’s current setup and has stepped up as the club’s captain and on-field leader.
In an interview with Cronache di Spogliatoio, Martinez expressed his loyalty to Inter’s project. He made it clear that he isn’t interested in changing clubs despite the speculation.
He said, “No, because I am faithful to the Inter project, I feel at home here. My family is happy, we have a restaurant in the city, and we love Milan. From the first day, everyone treated me in a way I didn’t think possible. I achieved so many personal and team goals here.”
Success on the pitch seems to deepen his connection to the club. Inter recently secured another league title and continues to chase trophies, including the Coppa Italia. On an individual level, Martinez is eyeing the Capocannoniere prize as Serie A’s top scorer. His steady performances underline why he’s considered one of the most reliable forwards in European football.
Since his move from Racing Club in 2018, Martinez has become the defining presence in Inter’s modern lineup. With 173 goals over 372 competitive games, it’s clear how vital he is to the team.
Looking ahead, the club sees Martinez as a central piece in their long-term plans. His leadership and scoring ability make him hard to replace. Settled both on and off the field in Milan, he seems set on continuing his story at the Giuseppe Meazza, despite ongoing interest from Europe’s elite clubs.
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