Atalanta striker Luis Muriel admitted that he rues some of the points his side have dropped over the course of the season as it prevented them from challenging Inter for the Scudetto.
La Dea have enjoyed a positive season and are on course for second place in Serie A after thrashing Parma 5-2 today, although they remain 13 points behind champions Inter.
Speaking to Italian television Sky Sport Italia following his late brace at the Stadio Ennio Tardini this afternoon, Colombia international Muriel reflected on a prolific season and spoke of Atalanta’s regrets.
“I have started from the bench in many games, scoring more than 20 goals means a lot to me. There are still many games to go and I can still improve,” Muriel claimed.
“Since I joined Atalanta it has often been like this. I almost always started from the bench and I can still improve. I managed to stay focused and give my all. In the last two games I started off the bench I didn’t do well but there is always time to work and recover.
“We are playing a lot, the pressure is high but we took home three important points. We regret the points we dropped poorly as we could have been close to first place. We are working to get there and fight with the big teams.”
Atalanta are looking to secure Champions League qualification, whilst they will contest the Coppa Italia Final against Juventus later this month, and Muriel insisted that the team were remaining focused until the end of the season.
“Two very important goals remain as we try to secure second place and the Coppa Italia. We are committed to improving ourselves because we have a coach (Gian Piero Gasperini) who is very ambitious.
“There is no time to relax, another team could relax after two consecutive years in the Champions League but not us. We want to continue to take Atalanta as far as possible. It has been my best season personally, I have enjoyed it and will continue to. I want to end well,” the former Fiorentina striker added.
Muriel has been in prolific form for Atalanta this season and has scored 25 goals in 44 appearances in all competitions for the Bergamo club.