Charles De Ketelaere has explained the importance of Atalanta's win over Chelsea.
De Ketelaere was the match winner for La Dea in the Champions League showdown in Bergamo on Tuesday night as his deflected effort in the 83rd minute completed the comeback.
Joao Pedro had fired the Blues ahead midway through the first half, only for ex-West Ham striker Gianluca Scamacca to equalise 10 minutes into the second half prior to the late drama inside the Stadio di Bergamo.
The result moves the Serie A side - who lifted the Europa League in 2024 - up to third in the 36-team Champions League table, thus boosting their chances of automatic qualification for the last-16.
Speaking after the game, De Ketelaere says beating the world champions made Tuesday’s victory over Chelsea all the more sweeter.
"I feel great. It's an amazing feeling, with the fans behind us, against the champions of the world,” he told UEFA.
“So, it's a very beautiful victory for us, for the the team, for the fans, and also for the classification in the Champions League.
“We were confident coming into the game, but we knew it was going to be very difficult. You saw also their great team, but I think we had an amazing game."
De Ketelaere comments echo that of Atalanta captain Marten de Roon who labelled Chelsea as a giant of European football.
He said: "We're really happy of course, because Chelsea is one of the best and biggest teams in Europe... in the world. They're the world champion.
“We knew it would be a really difficult game. I think we gave it everything and we gain a really big result for us! We're on 13 points, that's amazing.
“It's not done, but we're in a good position and we have to say to ourselves that it's important to play always like this."
