Goalscorer Bellingham admits Atalanta made it “tough” as the visitors won 3-2 in Bergamo.
He later said: 'It was a tough match. It would be difficult because of the way they play and their intensity. We saw that in the UEFA Super Cup and today it was similar. They are intense in one-on-ones all over the pitch and it was important to manage that well. Our quality was also decisive.
“When you know it's a man-to-man game, you have to be agile in the spaces to create them. You must also perform the first move that pulls the opponent out of position. Brahim and I talked in front of the goal, so he would go inside and I would use the space behind the full-back. It worked well and I managed to score.”
Speaking about his goal, Bellingham added: “I'm trying to add as much as I can to my game. I see something I like and I try to apply it. I position myself, build confidence for the goal. I hit the ball with everything I had and luckily my shot went in and we got the three points.”
Meanwhile, goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois said: It is a very difficult pitch to get on and the way they play is difficult. They are leaders in the Italian league and are also doing very well in the Champions League. We started very well with the first goal. Then they had some chances and we couldn't keep playing the way we did for the first fifteen to twenty minutes.
“In the first half we sometimes struggled to get going and today it was the other way around. We are happy with this victory on a very difficult terrain. Now we have to concentrate on the home game against Salzburg and the away game against Brest.”
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