“We considered making Gervinho available for Juventus, but he still has a problem he picked up last week and he won’t feature in the match, like Grassi who came off in the Lecce game with a back problem.”
“I don’t want to talk about what happened, but I’ll take this opportunity to clarify some things. We played against Lecce on Monday night, unlike Roma, who played a day earlier. We had to deal with playing three games in six days. We played our best team on Thursday night. During the week, before this Lecce game, Iacoponi and Bruno Alves – according to you and what you’ve written in the papers – they didn’t know if they were going to be able to play. Now I’ll ask you a question: when Parma beat Roma 2-0, what did people say? People mostly talked about Roma being tired because of the Europa league and that some players had already played that week. Taking away the credit from my team? And now? I’m not looking to take away from Roma’s performance and win.” “We will make our assessments on how the guys are doing tomorrow. What system? That will depend on the players I decide to send out onto the pitch. It’s clear that ultimately we will develop in a certain way and defend in another. This depends on the players that are picked.” “Kulusevksi will be seen in a different way. Until recently he was seen as a young guy from the Primavera, a guy who was only born in 2000. Now he has to do even better, since Juventus have made an important investment in him he will be judged differently. The advice I would give him is to go out on the pitch and continue to have as much fun as he has had so far without trying to overdo it because he could then have some difficulties. He’s a young man. Next year it’s clear he’ll earn a lot more money but from that point of view he has to do what he’s always been capable of doing: he’s a youngster who doesn’t like to lose, even in training. He has to remain clam and composed at his age.” The game tomorrow? “Juventus played on Wednesday and we played on Thursday but nobody pays attention to this – here in Parma at least – . That said, at Juventus there are players who play less in the league but not because they’re not good enough but rather as a part of a team management dynamic. We’ll be playing against a team in good physical and mental shape, it won’t be a simple match, we know we’re up against it but a lot will depend on how we go into the match and our desire to get a result. From a motivational point of view there’s very little to say in games like these, you have to find the energy that the match itself gives you. It’s a difficult but good game to play, in a stadium that will probably be sold out. I think that when you’re starting your professional career it’s everybody’s dream to play against Juventus, and to play like equals. That’s what I’m looking forward to.”
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“After this setback, we need to start again with our feet on the ground and not think that we’ve already secured survival. I can’t really criticise the lads because Atalanta are a great side. They’re the team that have impressed me the most. Of course, we didn’t want to concede five goals. We need to roll up our sleeves. It’s a step in the wrong direction and one that needs to serve as experience for us. Neither myself, the Coach nor the team expected to lose in this manner. We’re all disappointed for our fans, who followed us in numbers again today. Now, we need to go again stronger than before and stay united and compact, as has been the case up to this point. We must simply demonstrate that we’re Parma. We’ll go again in the same way that we’ve gone again after other defeats. The January transfer window is open but we need to avoid talking about it too much. There’s ongoing dialogue with the Coach regarding the market. The more we name names, the more we help our competitors.” “We always need to display the same attitude. We’re a group that works hard during the week and we always try to give our best. This was also the case today but Atalanta were the stronger team, compliments to them. We need to get back to working hard this week so that we can get back to winning ways. There needs to be the same attitude both when we win and when we lose, we have players with great character so we can keep on looking ahead. “Sometimes, football makes you realise where you actually are. We work hard, it’s not easy for me to comment on a defeat like this but we all work and try to maintain the same attitude, irrespective of the results we pick up. This game will serve as a lesson for us, we’ll train hard during the week to prepare for our next match: this is our mentality. We can’t do anything about the match that we’ve just played. However, we can work with intensity to ensure that we’re ready when it’s time to play our next fixture. “In the first 10-15 minutes, we created a few situations and tried to implement what we’d prepared during the week: the aim was to defend well and try to attack the spaces that could open up due to the way that they attack their opponents. Even though we were heading for defeat, we tried to give our all until the final whistle, but Atalanta were superior to us on a technical level. For me, it’s important to talk about the future now because we can no longer do anything about today’s game. This week, we’ll prepare to win our next one. “The team’s attitude stays the same both when we win and when we lose, we have players with strong mentalities. Even after big defeats, we can come back stronger as we look to work to achieve a good result at home. I haven’t had the chance to talk to the team, but the important thing is to return to the training pitch and think about recovering from this defeat. The players have shown that they can do better, we know what we can do better, now we need to remain focused ahead of our next match. “Kulusevski is young, he’s learning every day and needs to continue to work hard. This is football: what you’ve done no longer counts, you always need to display what you can do. He’s a humble lad and I think he’s got a great future ahead of him. Great things are expected of him but we’re here to give him support whenever he needs it.” “This match should make us understand that, despite the big absences we have, those who take to the pitch need to have certain characteristics, ones which have allowed us to achieve big things in the past and reach seventh place in the table. It also should make us understand that we all need to keep our feet on the ground a little bit more and realise that next Monday we’ll be involved in a very important game when it comes to our objective.” This was what Roberto D’Aversa had to say following Parma’s defeat to Atalanta today on matchday 18 in Serie A. The Coach continued: “Today, the difference was there for all to see. This wasn’t our intention but it’s useless to deny the facts: they were superior to us from the first until the 90th minute. We actually got lucky with the result.
“We knew the strength of this team, including their physical capabilities. Meanwhile, they also have quality in attack: players like Ilicic, Muriel and Gomez almost always make the most of the opportunities they have when they’ve got the chance to shoot at goal. The regret we have is that we didn’t cause a stronger team many problems, as opposed to what we’ve done in the past against other good teams. It’s not a question of absences or anything else, we must show humility in accepting the result by recognising that it didn’t come about because of our absences but because of what we didn’t do on the pitch. “At the end of the match, we spoke to the referee about something which happened at the end of the first half. But it was only a matter of clearing something up because I like speaking and clarifying things with referees on the pitch so I don’t have to come here and talk about refereeing decisions. Today, Mr Pasqua did well and didn’t have anything to do with the result. “Atalanta are the team that have scored the most goals in the league, they scored five against Milan before the Christmas break. We must be the first to understand the quality and potential of our team. I am primarily responsible and we’re all disappointed with the loss. With a team like ours, if more than one player plays below the level they’re capable of, something like what happened to day can take place. We struggled because we were up against a fully fit side with players that have allowed Atalanta to reach a high position in the table. They’re a complete side and are demonstrating this in the Champions League too. “We can’t turn up with a lack of humility and think we’re at the same level as Atalanta because they’re called Atalanta. For us, they need to be an example to aspire to so we can become like them in the future. That said, I am annoyed at today’s game and the five goals we conceded. I would have liked to see more fighting spirit, irrespective of the difference in technical quality. A little bit more sacrifice and determination. We need to keep our feet on the ground and understand what we’re fighting for: next Monday, we’ve got a vital game against Lecce. However, it wasn’t our intention to play like we did today and lose 5-0. Both myself and the players were slightly ashamed when the full-time whistle blew. “We’d spoken about using Inglese for 20-25 minutes before the game. With the scoreline the way it was, we decided to allow him to get more minutes under his belt. As regards Cornelius, we wanted to avoid setbacks. With Barillà being suspended for Lecce, we were thinking about that game when we brought Kucka off. I explained this to Kuco when he was substituted.”
Roberto D'Aversa was in front of the microphones ahead of Monday's trip to Bergamo, here's what the coach had to say. “Cornelius trained today, while Inglese has been working almost completely with the squad for the entire week, even if we monitored his play in the tackle. They are both in contention for tomorrow, although obviously I’ll be taking into consideration their recent recoveries. Roberto has worked more than Andreas from a fitness point of view and is better prepared. Andreas has been given the green light from the medical staff but he’s hardly trained with the team. However, I want to thank them both because they’ve remained here in Parma during the break to continue their recovery, ensuring that they’re ready for this away fixture. “Kulusevski? What happened this week acted as a bit of a distraction from our lack of numbers, however, that’s only normal when a player is signed by a big club. What I would like to say to the fans is that 99 times out of 100, a player would not have returned to Parma in a situation like this. I think that this demonstrates the intelligence and maturity of the player, which is a sign of gratitude to the club, his teammates and the backroom staff. “It’s highly likely that Pezzella will play from the start – I think that he has real potential in that role. In the past, he’s always been part of a five-man defence so it’s taken time for him to come to grips playing four at the back. However, he has the potential to be a very, very strong player and let’s not forget how young he is. I still have some doubts about tomorrow’s system but what matters is how the players carry it out. I think that we’re starting back in the league against the worst possible opponent – Atalanta. However, we must have the desire to get a result even if we know it won’t be easy. “Atalanta has scored more goals than anyone else this season, putting five past Milan in their last game. They enjoyed a good first half of the season but they still have the potential to improve. At crucial moments they’ve also had issues in the attack, missing both Muriel and Zapata. They are back to full strength tomorrow. We know the characteristics of this team and they don’t have any fear. They are strong physically, while they can also create play in a determined manner. If you look at some of their key players, such as Ilicic, Malinovskyi, Muriel and Zapata, then we need to make sure we work well as a team, while also doing well in the individual duels. As a whole, I think that they are one of the strongest teams in the league. “I was counting on the break to regain some of our players, although this didn’t go as planned – even if the staff and players did all they could. Having said that, this team has shown in the past that it can do well in the face of difficulty. We have players who possess different characteristics and we must do well to limit a team scores plenty of goals and builds play well. We must try to restrain them, while also threatening in attack. “As for the transfer market, the club and our sporting director know what we need. We’re simply focused on the tough match that awaits us tomorrow. It’s always a bit of an unknown after the break, however, we always use it to work hard and make sure that we’re ready for these occasions. We must all be prepared to give 120 per cent tomorrow. “As regards Kulusevski, I believe that everyone worked for their own interests and my Club did well. What I would like to highlight more is the fact that this lad has come back to Parma despite his young age: I don’t know how many players would have done the same thing. This should not result in any negative feelings towards the lad. On the contrary, it’s something which should be appreciated even more because he has stated that he wants to prove that he’s worth the money that’s been spent on him by performing well during the second half of the season. He needs to be managed in the right way, he’s a serious professional and has demonstrated this up to now. I’m sure that this will remain the case until the end of the season. “Scozzarella was treated elsewhere and has been back with us this week. Nevertheless, he’s still not fully fit. We all know his worth, the fact that he’s been working with me for three and a half years is an advantage because he knows what I’m asking for in that position. Matteo probably won’t start tomorrow but having him at my disposal is a big thing, even if he can only play for a reduced amount of time. “Who would I take from Atalanta? Every time I name a player belonging to our opponents they score, so I’m not going to say a name. Atalanta should serve as an example for all “medium-sized” clubs, great work has been done here for many years now. For a club like Parma, Atalanta is an objective to reach. Irrespective of who they play, they can cause problems: they’re a strong side who progressed from their Champions League group and are fifth in Serie A despite having some major absences, especially in the striking department. They’ll do even better during the second half of the season. “Would I take a draw? Brescia only lost in the 90th minute against a good team in Lazio, who won the Supercoppa Italiana against Juventus. It proves that Serie A is a very difficult league. Historically, teams at the bottom tend to pick up more points during the second half of the season. That said, I would never just aim for a draw because we won’t pick up any points if we go to Bergamo with this thought in our minds. If we head there full of desire and aware of the characteristics of the opposition and play based on this knowledge, we can try to make the most of a few gaps that could open up. We need to understand the kind of game that we need to play and read what is going on during the match, but aiming for a draw isn’t part of my philosophy. And this also applies to the lads because otherwise, they wouldn’t have done what they’ve managed to achieve so far.” |
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