They may be everyone’s second-favourite team of recent years, but the Atalanta side of Championship Manager 01/02 was infuriating to face.
If there was one team that won their way into the hearts of football fans throughout the world in 2019-20, it was Atalanta. In no small part, it was thanks to their gung-ho attacking philosophy, spearheaded by Josip Ilicic, Duvan Zapata and Luis Muriel, who combined to score 59 goals in all competitions.
With 98 goals, Atalanta broke the record for the most goals in a single Serie A season, finishing just five points behind Juventus, while also coming within minutes of the Champions League semi-finals. For any neutral, Atalanta had to be one of the teams they got behind this season.
However, if you have ever played Championship Manager 01/02, you’ll know that Atalanta were – at least on the game – the single most infuriating team you could ever come across.
It’s a rough estimate, but I played CM01/02 for over 5,000 hours in total, taking Darlington to the Champions League final or gifting Roberto Baggio another Scudetto at Brescia.
Yet despite all of the hours put into the game, there was always one team that, regardless of how good mine was or how badly I had cheated, I could never beat: Atalanta.
The team
They had Massimo Taibi in goal, which should be an indication of a team that anyone should be beating. But it wasn’t the case, from defenders who made essential game cheatcode Maxim Tsigalko look like Kevin Kyle to midfielders that won possession back constantly.
Up top, they had Fausto Rossini, a man who in real life scored just 32 times in his career. On Championship Manager, however, he was every great striker rolled into one with a price-tag that even Manchester City’s owners would raise an eyebrow at.
He was strong, tall, quick, excellent in the air and just as good at goal poaching. It didn’t matter who you had at the back – you could use the editor to give the ageing Aldair 20 pace or even sign Taribo West – you were going to concede to Rossini.
As the opposing manager, the problem was that he was also surrounded by players that were excellent at giving him the ball. To top it off, he was partnered by Gianni Comandini – rapid, could run all day, very tricky.
Done by Doni
Every game against Atalanta had a similar feel. You would likely take the lead early on only for them to equalise before half-time, usually through Rossini.
The minutes would pass by, you’d naively…
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