Dzeko: We didn't turn up in the second half

Dzeko, captain for the afternoon, scored twice in the first half to help put the Giallorossi in a dominant position in the game in Bergamo - only for the hosts to get one back just before half-time to make it 3-1, and then use that momentum to even matters out in the second half.

Forward Duvan Zapata notched the equaliser for Atalanta, just moments after missing a penalty kick.

You got back among the goals with a great brace...

“Hopefully I’m through a rough patch. I have never been out so long because of an injury – and longer still because of the winter break. I had only played one game in the last two months and I was lacking a bit of match sharpness. I always try to work as hard as I can, and slowly I’m getting back to my best.”

Are you angry to have squandered the match like that?

“It’s hard to explain – after playing so well in the first half we are disappointed, because we didn’t play in the second half. Their first goal gave Atalanta a real boost, they thought that they could get back into it after that and in the end they did.

"They played brilliantly in the second half – but then we have to say they are a really strong side. After half-time we didn’t play at all, we weren’t able to put two or three passes together and you can’t do much like that.”

How can it happen that Zapata misses a penalty and then scores 40 seconds later?

“I can’t explain it, the missed penalty should have given us the boost to see the game out. Conceding the equaliser 45 seconds later… I can’t explain it.”

Despite everything you are still in the hunt for fourth – can you take control of the race?

“We’re not making our quality count – games like this when you are 3-0 up you have to be winning. We’ve dropped two important points in that race for fourth. Atalanta are a strong side, they’ve shown that, but with all due respect at 3-0 it really can’t finish 3-3.”

But now do you feel like you are back at 100%?

“I’m feeling better and better; these goals will give me confidence. I hope the last fourth months of the season will be better than the first six.”