Sarri hits back at critics ahead of Juve reunion
Maurizio Sarri hit back at the criticism he has received over Atalanta's inconsistent start to the season on the eve of its trip to Juventus, saying he does not have "joysticks to control the players".
Atalanta has taken six points from its first four Serie A games under Sarri. It has lost each of its past two by a 2-1 scoreline, versus Roma and Cagliari.
La Dea is only one point behind Juve ahead of Sarri's reunion with his former club, but that has not stopped his critics from rearing their heads in the early stages of his reign.
When asked if coaches were under more pressure to earn immediate results, he said: "If this mentality has been created, it is down to you journalists and the directors.
"Jurgen Klopp said that you don't see the results of a coach's work in the first season, let alone in the first month.
"It will be a tough match. We coaches are bonded to the players on the field, but we cannot actively control anything, nor would it be right to do so.
"You in the media seem to think we coaches have joysticks to control the players. But in reality, games are won and lost based on numerous factors.
"If I go to Spain and am in charge of Levante, of course I’ll lose to Barcelona; there are different factors at play."
Sarri previously spent one season in charge of Juve in 2019-2020, winning the Scudetto with a team spearheaded by Cristiano Ronaldo.
But he was dismissed following a Round of 16 exit from the UEFA Champions League, although he harbours no ill-feeling towards the club.
"I have no regrets. It felt as if the Scudetto was taken for granted, but it's in the past now," Sarri said.
Juve boss Luciano Spalletti opted against giving a pre-match press conference, with his team coming off a 5-0 win over NEC in the UEFA Europa League.
Its previous Serie A outing was a 3-2 defeat to Sassuolo, with Vasilije Adzic scoring a 94th-minute winner on the counter-attack for the Neroverdi.
