De Ketelaere reacts to Europa League triumph: 'I’ve grown a lot this season'

Atalanta forward Charles De Ketelaere has said that he has ‘grown a lot this season’ after winning the Europa League with La Dea.

The Belgian forward is on loan at Atalanta from AC Milan but that move is expected to be made permanent come the end of the season given he has had such a great campaign in Bergamo.

Atalanta won the Europa League on Wednesday night after producing a stunning display to beat Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 in Dublin, with Ademola Lookman getting all three goals.

De Ketelaere spoke to Sky Sport Italia (via Milan News) after the match and he could barely put into words how he was feeling about helping Atalanta to win their first-ever European trophy, and the first trophy since 1963.

“I’m very proud, very happy, I don’t even have words,” De Ketelaere said.

Asked if he imagined this happening when he made the move in August, he said: “No, never. I feel very good.”

It is the first trophy of Gian Piero Gasperini’s time with Atalanta and De Ketelaere was asked whether the win is all down to the guidance of Gasperini. He praised the coach but also gave credit to the players, including himself.

“A lot, but the whole team in these years of work… It’s a reward for me too, I’ve grown a lot this season and winning here in the final against Leverkusen who had never lost is really nice,” he said.