Atalanta defended well for much of the match at the Johan Cruyff Arena and had opportunities to take the lead, but their missed chances proved costly.
Substitute Tolu Arokodare broke the deadlock in the 87th minute, taking advantage of a defensive error before finishing past Marco Carnesecchi. Ajax youngster Abdellah Ouazane then struck in stoppage time to seal a 2-0 win.
Sarri was frustrated that his side had conceded after spending so long keeping Ajax at bay, particularly because Atalanta had been playing with a numerical advantage when the decisive goals arrived.
“Of course we’re disappointed with the result and for the many Atalanta supporters who travelled here. But we produced a strong performance, with a little difficulty in the first half and a second half in which, unfortunately, we wasted a lot of counter-attacking opportunities, even with an extra player. Three minutes from the end, I was angry because we were heading for a draw.
“We made a few mistakes. After 87 minutes of defending at a very high level, we left a significant physical mismatch exposed without any support and paid the price. I think it was one of the few defensive errors of the match. We should leave disappointed, but not downhearted, because this was a performance that showed clear improvement.”
Atalanta struggled to make the most of their attacking transitions, often choosing the wrong pass or failing to execute the final action. Sarri said that aspect of their game needed work, but he wanted his players to focus on the broader performance.
“Unfortunately, we made too many mistakes with the final pass tonight. It is something you can train, but only up to a point, because the players have to contribute something themselves. I have to hold on to the genuine performance of the team. We played a European match with rhythm, intensity and commitment, and those are the things we need to build on.”
The defeat came after another disappointing result in the same week, leaving Sarri with little time to prepare for the next domestic fixture. He called for a balanced review rather than a reaction driven entirely by the scoreline.
“We need to analyse the match and look at the mistakes we made without forgetting all the good things. We should be frustrated with the result, but also recognise that we are making progress. We must make fewer mistakes and turn performances into results.”
Sarri also defended his substitutes, rejecting the suggestion that those who came on had let the team down.
“Everyone who played did what they were supposed to do. Sometimes substitutions make the difference and sometimes they disappoint, but tonight everyone who took part was fully involved mentally.”
Atalanta must now turn that improvement into points, beginning with their next league match.