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Atalanta's meteoric rise in recent years has made the football world stand up and take note. From battling relegation in the Serie A to competing against the elite of European football, the small club from Bergamo has come a long way.
Their recent victory against Valencia in the UEFA Champions League showcases the huge amount of potential and threat they carry.
The main man behind the club's rise is their manager, Gian Piero Gasperini. Ever since he was appointed as their manager in 2016, Atalanta have gone strength from strength. Gasperini's brand of fluid attacking football has turned La Dea into one of the most prolific teams in the Serie A.
Although Atalanta's success shows how well they have played as a team, some stand-out players have performed a key role in the rise of the team with their brilliance. Here, we look at 3 such key players of the Atalanta squad.
1. Josip Ilicic
One of the key players behind La Dea's success in recent years is the Slovenian international Josip Ilicic. The 31-year-old is currently enjoying the best season of his career and is receiving the deserved limelight.
Despite his big stature and strong build, Ilicic possesses incredible agility, dribbling skills and a knack for scoring goals. Additionally, he is renowned for his magical left foot, which is capable of tearing the net as well as producing delightful dinks and incisive passes. Furthermore, the attacker is a highly versatile player and can play in various positions across the front-line.
The Atalanta attacker has been in fine form this season and has managed to contribute to 19 goals, averaging a goal contribution per game. Apart from being adept at finding the back of the net, the forward has also contributed defensively, averaging a successful tackle per game.
2. Marten de Roon
Another player that is very crucial to Gasperini's style of football is Marten de Roon. The 27-year-old is arguably the most underrated midfielder in Italy and has often been overshadowed by other attacking players in the Atalanta squad.
De Roon is responsible for dictating the play from the heart of midfield. Offensively he may not directly contribute to goals, but he drops deep and builds up the attack from those positions. This further allows the wing-backs to take advance positions and supplement the attack.
Defensively, the midfielder possesses exceptional positioning abilities and can disrupt the opposition team's counter-attacks. The Dutch international has contributed to six goals and averages 2.4 tackles per game this season, showcasing his prowess in attack as well as defense.
The midfielder will be a key player for La Dea in the remaining part of the season as they look to achieve domestic as well as European success.
Furthermore, with the Euros around the corner, the 27-year-old midfielder will hope to continue his excellent run of form and impress the Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman.
3. Hans Hateboer
Another Atalanta player that has gone under the radar is Hans Hateboer. The Dutch international has been in fine form lately and has played a key role in La Dea's rise.
Hateboer moved to Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia from FC Groningen in January 2017. The defender had a quiet start and was not able to make an impact in his first season. However, since his second season, the Dutchman's game has improved by leaps and bounds. With his impressive and consistent performances, Hateboer has been able to push Tim Castagne out of the side.
The 26-year-old possesses incredible pace and flair, and the ability to drive forward at the opposition. Under Gasperini, the full-back plays on the right in 3-4-3 formation, which allows him the freedom to play higher up the pitch - often acting as an auxiliary winger.
Hateboer has been a constant attacking threat and has contributed to six goals this season, scoring two and creating four. He has also been defensively solid and averages 1.2 tackles per game this season.
With several teams keeping a close eye on Hateboer, it will be interesting to see what the future has in store for him.
