It's been an emotional day at Collecchio with Alessio Agrifogli confirming his exit from Parma, young Neapolitan Pasquale Mazzocchi soon followed him through the exit door with the 20 year old confirmed he wouldn't be a Parma player next season as his six month spell comes to an end with a heavy heart. Here are his kind words.
"I have spent six beautiful months here but today the worst moment has arrived. I want to thank everyone, I don't want to mention names because I don't want to forget anyone. If I'm crying on my way home to my beloved Naples, that means my time here has been a good one and all of you have given me something special, you have been exceptional to me. I do not know if we will see each other again but I promise a little bit of each of you will always have a place in my heart. I hope to try and relive the emotions again that I have lived this year with Parma because in I believe that in life we can always do more. Most importantly thank you to you wonderful fans, even if you have not supported me, thank you for supporting the team. Next year I too will be a fan of yours. Forza Parma!!" Grazie Pasquale!! Follow me - @giovannid86 @Solo_Parma Facebook - Solo Parma
0 Comments
This morning the last training session of Parma was held at Collecchio, the players then emptied their lockers before leaving for a well-deserved holiday. Today is also the day that key talks will take place to decide the future of each of the players in the squad, although for the moment it is still unclear as to what decisions will be made. However Alessio Agrifogli who spent the season on loan from Empoli today made an emotional farewell.
"This is possibly the worst moment of this year, it is now that you live thousands & thousands of emotions and feelings, re living the best memories during the past year with Parma, also remembering the difficult moments and how you overcame them and grew. Many words pass through my head, I could write a book on this fantastic year. I do not want to though. I keep everything inside me. You have enriched me. I arrived here by chance unexpectedly at the very end of the transfer market and I fell in love right away. Unfortunately, this fairy tale end has come to an end. Thank you, Thanks to the company for all their work with me, Thanks to all those who work for this club, Special thanks to the city where I met many great friends and great people! Thanks to the fans, always singing and always there to support us. To play at the Tardini was a beautiful experience, especially when we played Delta Rovigo in front of nearly 20,000 spectators! Then thanks to my brothers, all of them, that team but above all that group. Young and old first team and juniors! A family! Our real strength has been just that, a family in the locker room. It will be a sad goodbye but I will always carry you in my heart. Forza Parma. " Grazie Alessio from Solo Parma!! Follow me - @giovannid86 @Solo_Parma Facebook - Solo Parma As the news broke yesterday that club captain Alessandro Lucarelli would sign on for another season, il capitano this morning spoke to the press at his delight of remaining at the club for his ninth season in a row.
"Before the end of the season I had already said I would remain and play another season, now it is official, I am very pleased to have been given the opportunity to play here for another season because initially last year I said this would have been my last season however my appetite for the game remains the same, the enthusiasm around the city excites me and I am still in good physical shape so in the end it was an easy choice to make. I am proud to still be part of this team and proud to wear this shirt for the ninth season in a row. For now we will go and rest for the summer and aim to come back and have another winning season next year. Parma has two captains? Yes, Minotti and Lucarelli, Minotti from behind the desk an myself on the field, we are two guys who absolutely love this place and we are both remaining here, this must be nice for the fans. The goal again for next season will be to try and win the championship, yes it is a step up and it will be more difficult with a lot of important teams but we are Parma and I presume that even in Lega Pro the name Parma is still an important one and we will still be the team to beat and the most important one. Yes I can now go off and enjoy a holiday this year, as last year that was impossible with everything going on, it feels more like ten years rather than one, let just say that last year came with the perfect ending with us winning the championship after the horrendous start to 2015. These next few days are important for the club as we decide who stays and who has to part company with the club, this is football people come and people go, it will be difficult though as a lot of these guys go beyond team mates but instead close personal friends. Everybody from the group an the staff will always be remembered in the history of Parma what has been achieved this season and I would like to offer a personal thanks to each and everyone of them. We have lay an important basis this year for this club and for next season and I am convinced the people we get in will continue to build this club. When I decided to continue? This year I have played 38 out of a possible 40, I missed two through suspension, yes the level is not as high as it has been in previous years however the league was physically challenging. I am 39 in July and I know that I can not go on forever, when I feel I can no longer continue I will be the first to raise my hand and step aside, I do not want to be a burden on anyone and I do not want to receive any special treatment because I am captain, when I can not longer play I will know and I will step aside. I have already said this is a great group we have here, yes we will have to bring people in, we will be looking to improve in all positions, I am convinced the club will do this because we all want to win but I stress the personnel who do come in must have the same values and desire as the group this year." Follow me - @giovannid86 @Solo_Parma Facebook - Solo Parma After yesterdays training session at Collecchio, Lorenzo Simonetti spoke of his disappointment at the season being over and thanked the coach helping him develop into a better player.
"Yes the season is unfortunately over, It's unfortunate because it's time to say goodbye for a few weeks, to the fans, and colleagues you've spent the season with. I consider my time at Parma as an overwhelming success and a hugely positive time in my life. I'm delighted Mr. Apolloni has renewed his contract for another season, he deserves this for all the excellent work he has done this season. It is thanks to him (Apolloni) and his staff that I have improved a lot this season, although I have not perfected my game, he has taught me how to speed the game up, how to be more comfortable on the ball which is very important for a midfielder. My future? I still don't know where I'll be, of course the dream is to remain here at Parma but we will wait and see. If I were to stay here and play in Lega Pro next season then I would come up against Livorno, the team of my city and the club where I grew up, it would be a special game for me." Follow me - @giovannid86 @Solo_Parma Facebook - Solo Parma Parma gather at Collecchio this morning to be put through their paces for the last time this season, once again todays training is an open doors affair with all fans welcome.
After todays session club captain Alessandro Lucarelli will be presented in front of the media after the 38 year old defender put pen to paper meaning Parma's inspirational leader will remain at the Tardini for the 2016/17 season. While the majority of the squad were put through a training session yesterday afternoon, Maikol Benassi, Davide Giorgino, Riccardo Musetti and Moussa Balla Sowe worked together with a light session as they all look to regain full fitness. As for Luca Cacioli he spent the day working with the physio's while Lorenzo Adorni and Giulio Mulas sat the full session out. Follow me - @giovannid86 @Solo_Parma Facebook - Solo Parma Parma today officially announced club captain Alessandro Lucarelli has agreed terms to remain at the club for the 2016/17 season, with the contract expected to being formalised, signed and filed in the next couple of days.
With the confirmation of Parma's inspirational captain along with the technical and managerial staff who all confirmed their services for another year this morning, the foundation on which Parma Calcio 1913 was founded remains and can now be build on as preparations begin for next season in Lega Pro. In the coming days Parma officials are expected to meet the rest of the players and their agents to decide where they will be playing their football next season with the majority hoping to remain at the Tardini. Alessandro Lucarelli will be presented to journalists and the media tomorrow at 11:30am at the Collecchio Sports Centre. Follow me - @giovannid86 @Solo_Parma Facebook - Solo Parma It's an important week at Collecchio as Parma begin preparations for next season in Lega Pro already.
First of all the coach and his staff, Luigi Apolloni's contract is due expire in the next few days. It is expected that the man who led Parma to the Serie D, Group D title, guiding the team through a remarkable unbeaten season will sign on once again for another 12 months, with his backroom staff doing the same. There are also rumours coming out of Collecchio that there may be a few tweaks to the technical staff with Sandro Melli moving into a new position at the club, all will be confirmed by the end of the week. Once the manager and coaching staff are in place and confirmed for next season then the discussions will begin with the players and their representatives. The first team is back at the Collecchio training base on Wednesday and will train for three days until Friday, each player will be spoken to during these three days with all options available being discussed for each player. Without doubt there is a desire from the huge majority of the camp to stay on next season and continue this journey with Parma. There will be some tough choices made over the next few days and some very emotional decisions will be made as it is thought some of the younger guys may be forced out to gain some experience elsewhere next season, it's going to be a tough few days for the players and the decision makers at Parma. Parma are expected to announce some new reinforcements for next season in the coming weeks however before this Parma must first decide who is staying and who must bid an emotional farewell to the club. It's going to be an intense week, come Friday it will be a lot clearer once each player has been given the opportunity to speak to the Parma hierarchy. Follow me - @giovannid86 @Solo_Parma Facebook - Solo Parma It was a quiet day at Collecchio today as the squad were given two days off following Sunday's disappointing 2-2 draw with Sambenedettese at the Tardini in the second game of the Poule Scudetto.
The team will be back at the Collecchio training base tomorrow morning (Wed 26/05/16) to resume training which once again will be an open doors session where afterwards Pasquale Mazzocchi will speak with the press. Meanwhile today saw injured Maikol Benassi, Luca Cacioli, Davide Giorgino, Riccardo Musetti and Mousa Balla Sowe continue their rehabilitation programmes in order to regain full fitness. Follow me - @giovannid86 @Solo_Parma Facebook - Solo Parma The man who opened the scoring for Parma this afternoon Matteo Guazzo spoke to the press and media after the game, struggling to hide his disappointment at letting a two goal lead slip.
"Yes Parma threw it away today, we played really well for an hour, despite the heat we managed to play some really good football. Once we doubled our lead thanks to a wonder goal from Corapi we seemed to lose focus and our concentration went. We had a really strong first half but when they got it back to 2-1 we lost it, when you are 2-0 up especially at home you should never let this slip. Despite todays disappointment we can not forget what a wonderful season this club has had. On a personal note I have not played much this season but when I have been given a chance I feel I have done well and scored some important goals which is always nice for a striker. The future? I have not spoken to anyone, now the season is over we will get in during the week to talk then we will see, my willingness however is to stay here with Parma. I made an important decision this year when I chose Parma and I want to continue to give my full contribution to this project. Playing with Melandri and Mazzocchi was good today, they are two guys who know how to play football, I enjoyed playing with them, I enjoy playing with all the guys in the team, the important thing is to do what the coach wants." Follow Me - @giovannid86 @Solo_Parma Facebook - Solo Parma Parma's assistant coach spoke to the press and media after today's 2-2 draw at home to Sambenedettese.
"The last two games have been poor, it is true, you can't deny that. Today the game was under control, there were a few of our players that towards the end their legs had gone and trying to keep possession was proving to be difficult, we lost a very stupid goal and what happened happened. We should have put the game to bed, we were causing them all sorts of problems from our set pieces and we had chances to score a third. The numerical advantage we had could not be capitalised on as you could clearly see we had more than one player struggling with knocks, we had already made all our substitutions which were needed. When they got it back to 2-1, they made us worry, do we hold on to what we have or do we go for a third. This year has been a great journey to be on, we have not experienced too many difficulties this year, but these past two games have given us a reality check going in to Lega Pro next season, we have to be at 100% at all times, we can't afford for players legs to go in the dying moments of games, every one will have to give it everything each week. This is a game like the Gubbio defeat, there must be a lesson learned here for next season, this has given us a taste of what to expect next year, it is with regret that we have not won the last two games but hey football is a beautiful sport and the emotions it gives you means we have can be positive going in to the new season." Follow Me - @giovannid86 @Solo_Parma Facebook - Solo Parma |
Archives
July 2022
|