Atalanta midfielder Marten de Roon believes the Italian team can pull off a surprise in the Europa League final and end Bayer Leverkusen’s unbeaten season on Wednesday.
Leverkusen won their first Bundesliga title and are on track to complete an impressive treble, without losing in 51 games so far this season.
Atalanta also had a memorable season, reaching the European final for the first time in their history, qualifying for next season’s Champions League and losing last week’s Coppa Italia final to Juventus.
“They’ve had a perfect season so far. I don’t want to say they have any flaws, but any team can win,” DeLone, who missed the game due to injury, said on Tuesday.
“They seem invincible, but maybe they can change things.”
Under the guidance of coach Gian Piero Gasperini, Atalanta rose from a regional club in the shadow of neighboring giants AC and Inter Milan to regulars in European competition.
But they have so far failed to end their 61-year wait for the trophy.
“All that matters is that we want to win the game. It doesn’t matter if I’m there or not, what matters is that we lift the trophy,” DeLone added.
“We will do our best to achieve that.”
Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso has turned down offers from his former club Liverpool and Bayern Munich to commit to the German champions next season.
And Gasperini praised the Spaniard’s loyalty to remain at the club that offered him his first senior coaching role.
“What Xabi Alonso has achieved is amazing because his performances this season have given him the opportunity to go to many big clubs.
“But he thought that the club (Leverkusen) believed in me when I wasn’t perceived so well.”
Atalanta enjoyed two of the best nights in European history on the road to Dublin, defeating Liverpool in the quarter-finals and Marseille in the last four.
Gasperini hopes these achievements will give his players confidence and end Leverkusen’s astonishing run.
“We know we’re playing against a great team, we know they’re undefeated and we know they’re having a great season,” the 66-year-old said.
“But our journey was also very good because we were able to beat a very strong team and reach the final. We also have faith.”
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