“It was a big effort, we made sacrifices because we were up against a side that had come here to try and win. We played the game in the right way and with the right spirit, getting a point while also trying to win it.” These were the words of Parma defender Simone Iacoponi after the 0-0 home draw against Torino today. “We weren’t able to win but the spirit was good and we’re on the right road. There was a good crowd and we have a great relationship with the fans and it has to stay that way until the end of the season. They gave us energy, it’s important and we wanted it. This draw was treated almost like a win because it came during a difficult spell. It’s a very important point for our morale and position in the table. The formation? We made some changes, I played in the middle but it’s a role I’ve occupied in the past. It’s a role that I like.”
“After the game, we all congratulated one another because it wasn’t easy against a strong team. It was difficult to end this run but we did it all together, and it’s vital that we did so as a team. We had the best chances to win through Dimarco and Gagliolo. It’s clear that they had some chances but it’s not easy to plug all the holes and keep different players quiet. “The team is in good shape apart for those guys who are injured and who will certainly come back as soon as possible. We had three games in a week and got through it in excellent shape. This is a strange moment, we got here after a difficult run and it wasn’t easy. Now, we’ve found some confidence and we need to continue with it until the end because we’re not there yet and we can keep getting points. I don’t know how far we are from being safe, when we’re mathematically safe we can all celebrate together.” “Today, the guys put in an excellent performance,“ he began by saying. “They went out there with the spirit of a side that wants to stay up at all costs. They had the impetus in the game but we had two chances to go ahead. Considering the morale we had after the Frosinone game, the guys played an excellent game. We’ve used a different system for some time but I can guarantee that we have used the 3-5-2 more times than this, then it obviously depends on who you have available. For those who I picked to start, it was better to use this system even if more depends on your attitude as you look to get a result. Today, with a lot of forwards missing, it was hard to select an attacking trident. I believe that it’s also important how the fans came to motivate us yesterday like they did before the derby with Reggiana. The tight-knit environment has led the guys to give something extra and this is important as we pursue our objective.”
“This game was one I was more motivated for than perhaps I needed to be. I read things about how it would have been different in the first half of the season that I didn’t agree with. We approached the game to get a result. Our objective is different from theirs and when two teams haven’t achieved their goals, it’s normal for there to be tension which is a part of sport and competition but when it’s over you go and shake hands with everyone. I don’t believe that I went beyond that. The defensive shape? We were playing in a 3-5-2 which meant that we had to play out with Kucka on one side and Sprocati on the other. The aim was to stick to our positions as usual when, with Gazzola covering a wider area and Kuco playing deeper on the left, building the play like with when we have a 4-3-3. “Ceravolo? He’s showing great attachment to the shirt, in Frosinone he played even though we first thought he couldn’t because of a physical issue. Today, he had a great game. He’s an important player, he contributed to promotion for us last year and he has a special sense of belonging here. When he believes in himself and plays like today, he can give us a big hand even if it’s in Serie A. I’m happy for him, he scored on Wednesday and he was lively today when there had been a lot of scepticism about him. It’s important to have a certain balance, today we had younger players like Sierralta, Dimarco and Sprocati who have featured less but they had more desire to get a result compared to the opponent who were technically superior today. Incidents like the one at the end against Frosinone can happen, we’re not going to cause controversies about the referee but think about improving ourselves. From here until the end of the season, the aim is to give as little up to the opposition while looking to score goals that get us results, not like against Spal or Frosinone.Those who are fighting to survive must make sacrifices to stop the opponent from scoring. “We were braver in the second half but we also allowed some dangerous counterattacks. We had players who had played for three games in a row before along with others who hadn’t played for a long while. If you’re low on numbers, you can’t make changes based on physical condition and you have to know how to read when it’s the time to be aggressive or when to wait.” “There’s always disappointment when a defeat comes about in the final few minutes. We had to reshuffle things going into the game and managed to get back into the match in the second half. I was expecting the team to be a bit more focused, but we made it difficult for our opponents despite all the injuries we have. In addition to Sportiello’s save in the second half, we had two or three other chances. We were unlucky, while they were slightly lucky to profit from our lack of focus. This should help us to try to get more points on board in our next few matches because no one is going to give us anything, as we have seen.
“As regards the relegation battle, this perhaps hasn’t helped us. We picked up a lot of points during the first half of the season but knew that it would remain a difficult task for us. We knew that there was a risk that it wouldn’t go as well as planned. We didn’t expect to pick up this many injuries, but at the same time Sprocati and Ceravolo both played tonight and did well. We need to stay focused and try to pick up as many points as possible.” “I’ve said sorry to my teammates. This defeat is all of my responsibility. I committed a serious mistake. Having seen the penalty that was awarded to Frosinone, there are three mistakes that I’ve committed. I am one of the most experienced players and I can’t allow myself to make these type of mistakes. It’s only right that I shoulder this responsibility. The lads gave everything that they had to give tonight, they battled from start to finish. However, because of my three mistakes, we threw it all away. I’m really sorry. We were on the brink of getting an important point. It was the kind of match that we expected, with Frosinone attacking right from the off. We did better in the second half, creating chances with some good counter-attacks. Unfortunately, we couldn’t finish them off. It’s a great shame and we’ve lost out on a good opportunity. It’s a really difficult moment for us, but with solidity, desire and motivation, we can overcome it.”
“Frosinone were the better side in the first half. We did well to get back into the game on two occasions. Meanwhile, we were on top in the second and we had a number of chances to take the lead. In the end, we could’ve done better in controlling the ball during the final three minutes. Especially given that this game has now cost us a point that could’ve been important in our league position. The penalty? There was a foul. I haven’t seen it again for a possible offside but there is technology for this and I don’t think there were any mistakes made. We must focus on where we can improve, it’s not down to me to assess the refereeing decisions made.
“I don’t like to mention absentees, instead we should be thinking about our mistakes. We had 11 players out on the pitch and in the second half, we did well to equalise. At that moment, our motivation should’ve been different. It was too important for us to get a result. We need to recover and focus on Saturday’s tough test against Torino. I can’t criticise the players tonight in terms of their commitment. Some of them played despite fitness issues. Ceravolo is an example, gritting his teeth to play and demonstrating his attachment to this shirt. Lately, we’ve committed too many minor mistakes and this has cost us. “Are players set to return? I hope so, yes. It’ll be down to the medical staff to decide. Each one of us must take care of our own responsibilities and ensure that these absentees don’t weigh us down. We have an objective to achieve. Our league position? We must consider where we started. Last year, we were both in the fight for promotion and now we’re higher up in the league standings. However, this mustn’t mean that we’ve achieved our goal. We know where we started and what is now our objective. And just like we couldn’t remain calm when we were in a better position, we now can’t be fearful because this can lead to mistakes. We try to get a result in every game and the lads tried to do so this evening. On one hand, I must praise the lads for their performance, but on the other, they can’t commit mistakes when there are so few matches remaining. We need to improve on this. “It’s a shame because we conceded from a free-kick and an avoidable penalty. As for Gervinho’s absence, if I had to choose my man of the match from tonight, then it would be his replacement – Sprocati.” “We could have finished the first half ahead, we played well in the opening 45 while we struggled a bit in the second due to their quality and our tiredness because they’re very physical. After they went ahead, it became a bit too difficult. We had good chances and the regret is that we could’t end the first half with the lead because this would have given us something more going into the second half, mentally and physically. It would have moved the game towards a situation that benefitted us more. It’s disappointing because you can’t say anything about the performance, we gave everything and we shouldn’t forget that they’re a really great side.”
“They move the ball very well,” added Scozzarella. “In the second half, we became a bit stretched and they score goals when there’s space. Gervinho’sgoal? We worked on that in the week where the midfielder sticks on their attacking midfielder even if they have to drop a lot deeper. It worked well but it’s disappointing that we took the lead and then lost. In the second half, we made some changes to do more in attack and we created some issues for them but it’s hard to play against Atalanta.” Now, focus in on Wednesday’s match against Frosinone: “We’re preparing for the Frosinone trip as we always do, we’ve always been able to go again after good and bad moments. We’re falling off a bit at the moment but we’re always training at our best, I’ve been here for two-and-a-half years and I’ve experienced a lot. The situation isn’t as complicated as it has been in the past, but we need to give something extra to go to Frosinone and look to put in a great performance. We’re all improving and we all need one another, nobody can do extraordinary things if the others don’t give a hand. We’ve gone without some players and that wasn’t ideal because they could have helped today but that’s part of the game. Now, we’ll look at our mistakes and stick together before going again.” “Up until their second goal, I think that the guys were playing excellently, it’s clear when you’re up against an excellent side and you don’t make the most of your chances, they’ll punish you. I think that the final result is harsh, I put Bruno Alves up front at the end to try and get a result and the team became stretched. It’s disappointing because the guys deserved more for what they did.”
“At the break, we were forced into a change because Iacoponi had to go off after taking a blow to the head, and then if people start tiring, the whole team can feel it because you can’t make changes. With Iacoponi off and Gervinhoanother change we were forced into, I had to wait when I could have put Barillà on to shore up the midfield. It’s clear that the team struggled physically when up against their technical quality and we couldn’t make the changes needed to deal with that. Up until the second goal, we did very well at both ends and the first half was better with the players fresher after they hadn’t played for a while and we paid for this in the second half when we tired. There’s regret, we conceded the second goal from our own throw when we could have stopped the break. When the guys take to the pitch, they give their all and I’m satisfied with that but it’s clear that we have to work on our mistakes.” “This year, our main characteristic has been that we make it tough for teams, we faced one of the best teams in the league today and they’ve always dominated games, even when they don’t get positive results. Our guys did well despite all the issues with injuries before the match and during it. Let’s not make excuses though, our attention now turns to the next difficult match.” “Atalanta are the side with the best away record and they’ve got goals on the break thanks to their physical attributes. They were able to make changes and bring the likes of Ilicic on. On the Ceravolo chance, the goalkeeper did well and we had other chances with the Bruno Alves free kick and Gervinho on the break, you then have to analyse whether it was due to our mistakes or if credit goes to the opponent. Let’s not forget that Atalanta are competing for a Europa League spot but they also have the potential to make the Champions League. For as long as Ceravolo was on the pitch, the team did very well but we then dropped back after. “When he went off, Gervinho told me had an issue with his adductor. muscle but the doctors will now see exactly what it is and hopefully it’s nothing serious. Kucka well at the start of the second half when he showed that he’s a strong player in every aspect. We know that our players have substance. On the goals, the defence acted as though we were playing with a back four rather than a five. Gagliolo followed a cutback when he didn’t have to because there were three in the middle and they could get to the ball or cover the run. At that that moment, the whole unit made a mistake and that’s probably because they’re used to playing as a back four.” “We weren’t at it from the off today. Lazio scored with their first two chances, and our morale was badly affected immediately. We weren’t able to react. In the second half, we tried to play and things went a bit better. The tackle on Inglese in the penalty area in the first half? To be honest, I didn’t see it and haven’t watched it back yet, so I’m not able to comment on it. The VAR officials will have looked at it again and passed judgement. We need to get going again immediately and think about our next match against Atalanta at the Tardini after the international break. We need to reach 40 points so as to ensure that we achieve our goal of avoiding relegation. The break could come in handy for us as it’ll provide an opportunity for our injured players to recover. We’ve still got an advantage over the other teams looking to avoid the drop, and this is deserved due to what we’ve done on the pitch. Today, we were unfortunately unable to play our game against a Lazio side looking to qualify for the Champions League.”
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