Maurizio Sarri hopes the Atalanta fightback in a 3-2 defeat to Milan can ‘boost our self-belief’ but feels Adrien Rabiot should’ve been sent off for insulting the referee.
La Dea seemed shell-shocked at San Siro for the first hour of this match, as they went 3-0 down to goals from Goncalo Ramos, Adrien Rabiot and Mario Gila, even with Marco Carnesecchi parrying another Goncalo Ramos penalty.
The game changed entirely when Gianluca Gaetano came off the bench, as he scored and then helped create the second for Nikola Krstovic to set up a tense finale, only a tough Mike Maignan save preventing Davide Zappacosta from getting it back to 3-3.
Sarri saw positive Atalanta response
ITALY – OCTOBER 18: Yunus Musah of AC Milan is challenged by Charles De Ketelaere of Atalanta BC during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Atalanta BC at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on October 18, 2026 in Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
“Our press lacked intensity in the first half and we struggled with that,” confessed Sarri on Sky Sport Italia.
“Having said that, the first really dangerous move was ours with Krstovic, then incidents went against us.”
While the hosts received two penalties for handling offences, Atalanta saw their appeals rejected for potential Koni De Winter handball, but Sarri had some other complaints too.
ITALY – OCTOBER 18: Marco Carnesecchi of Atalanta BC gives instructions during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Atalanta BC at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on October 18, 2026 in Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
“On Rowe’s cross, it seemed to me that De Winter got it with his hand. Today I discovered there are players who can tell referees to go **** themselves. I pointed this out to the referee, and he said that the player was booked. If I say that, I get sent off, quite rightly.”
The reference was to Rabiot, who a couple of minutes after that incident went on to score the second Milan goal.
ITALY – OCTOBER 18: Daniele Chiffi reacts during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Atalanta BC at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on October 18, 2026 in Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
“I did not like the way the referee dealt with the game overall, but that happens every time I deal with Chiffi. It’s a pity we didn’t pick up points, as towards the end the momentum was with us.
“We could even have aimed for more than a draw, but if the performance is the one we saw in the last half-hour, then that at least boosts our self-belief.”
Milan and Atalanta were both in action on Thursday evening with victories, the Rossoneri 4-0 in the Europa League away to RB Salzburg, and the Bergamo boys hosting Pafos 3-1 in the Conference League.
ITALY – OCTOBER 18: Gianluca Gaetano of Atalanta BC celebrates his team’s second goal scored by Nikola Krstovic (not pictured) during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Atalanta BC at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on October 18, 2026 in Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Their physical fatigue levels therefore ought to be fairly similar, although La Dea saw their injury crisis go from bad to worse with Sead Kolasinac limping off early.
It forced Sarri to give the senior debut to Relja Obric, who immediately gave away a penalty for handball.
“All those who came off the bench were positive and reactive, even if some were introduced when we were already starting to turn the game around.”