Bruno Alves admitted Atalanta “were better than us” but has challenged Parma to “work hard” to bounce back from the worst defeat since their return to Serie A.
Parma suffered a heavy 5-0 defeat in Bergamo on Monday but the 38-year-old vowed to continue with “the same spirit” as before.
“After such a defeat, we start again with the same spirit we had up until this point,” Alves said in the mixed zone after the match. “Atalanta was better than us, we congratulate them. But we always give our all.”
Coach Roberto D’Aversa claimed the loss “brought them back to earth” after a run of four games unbeaten and Alves reiterated his words.
“It’s not easy to speak after a defeat,” he said. “Now we can only go back to work. Football sometimes gives you the opportunity to understand what size you really are.”
Parma suffered their biggest defeat since their return to Serie A in 2018-19 but the captain insisted the team prepared like they always do.
“In fact, during the first 10 to 15 minutes of the game, we also created some chances,” Alves added. “We prepared like we usually do, trying to defend well and attack the opponent between the lines.
“What we can do is to prepare for our next games in the best possible way. After the first goal, their superiority was clear. Their technical abilities came through.”
Alves claimed Parma can’t let the defeat affect their next games and is determined to “work hard” but revealed he didn’t get to speak to his teammates after the match.
“We must always have the right mentality, both after a win and after a defeat,” he said. “The only thing we can do now, is to work hard.
“I didn’t have the chance to speak to the team, because I was busy with anti-doping. But we have to work hard from the next training session.”
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