Collecchio, 13 January 2026 – This is what Carlos Cuesta had to say ahead of Parma’s rearranged against Napoli in Serie A Enilive tomorrow.
READY TO GIVE OUR ALL
“As always, I expect us to give everything and put in a strong performance, going out there to fight for points. We’re focused on that. We know the quality of the opponent and the atmosphere, and we understand the importance of the match for them, but we’re also aware of how important it is for us. That’s why we’re determined to give our absolute best and take the game where we want it. The journey so far? It’s been important, and it should be recognised how much these players are giving to represent Parma in the best possible way, get results, consolidate the Club in Serie A, and improve every day. We know points are available in every game: three are up for grabs, and we have to go out there and get them.”
TEAM UPDATE
“Suzuki, Ndiaye and Frigan are unavailable. Løvik has a minor issue and hasn’t fully recovered yet. Guaita is also out – he hurt his shoulder and won’t be in the squad. Almqvist couldn’t complete our last training session because of a small problem, so he won’t be in the squad either. Drobnic, a central defender, will be called up, as well as Casentini. What’s nice is that all three goalkeepers have come through our Youth Sector, which makes us proud – that’s not something to take for granted. As for the starting line-up, I always say the same: we need to get points tomorrow, and we’ll choose the players who are best suited to do so, both in terms of freshness and the type of game we expect. We always need to be competitive, understand the context, and see which players are available so we can manage minutes and maintain a high performance level. Cutrone? He’s absolutely part of our plans. He’s training and available to help us, as always. Could a right-winger arrive? We’re aligned with the Club, and we’re always working as best we can to improve.”
NAPOLI’S STRENGTH
“In terms of identity, they’re very consistent. They want to press high to win the ball as quickly as possible and create scoring chances. They attack spaces if you leave them, and they can play both short and long. They also have the ability to find their striker with Milinkovic-Savic’s long balls forward. They’re a very complete team. I don’t think we’ll have the ball as much as Inter did – that seems unlikely. We need to be humble, fight hard, and dig in together. Everyone must work together to have the confidence and determination to take points. We hope to stay compact and solid, and to read the moments of the game – knowing when to press high and when to defend deep. Napoli are very strong when they overload the box with quality players. They’re dangerous from set-pieces, in open spaces, and when they run at you. They’re the Champions of Italy and recently won the Supercoppa – I don’t need to explain who they are. They’re a very strong team, but we know there will be spaces and opportunities to take the game where we want it, and that’s what we’ll try to do.”
ANTONIO CONTE
“He’s a figure to look up to. He’s won five Serie A titles, the Premier League – where I also had the luck, or misfortune, of facing him in England – and I could see how quickly he adapted at Tottenham with very clear principles and a strong identity tailored to the players’ qualities. A coach who has won so much, in so many clubs and countries, is a role model, because he’s a winner from whom you can learn a great deal. I can only speak with appreciation for his work. I’ve seen him in action, and it’s always been masterful. How much will his absence matter tomorrow? I don’t know, I can’t quantify it: that’s something only they can answer.”
THE TEAM’S RESPONSE IN LECCE
“I see it as a step forward – having the maturity to read the key moments of the match. When things aren’t going your way, you have to know how to endure and take advantage of opportunities, but without rushing. We can exploit an advantage, but we need to do things properly, without losing composure or being too eager. We did the right things, and the players were excellent when we had a numerical advantage, creating chances and converting them.”
A JOURNEY THAT DESERVES POSITIVITY
“We focus on what we can control – or rather, influence – like our daily work. At the same time, there are other aspects – like people’s opinions – that we can’t control. These players deserve more, they deserve more positive recognition, and everything they are doing deserves to be appreciated. Beyond that, football is constantly moving and never stops. Tomorrow, we have a very important match, and I focus only on working to deliver better performances that bring points. What people say isn’t something we can control. The level of dedication, attention to detail, always giving our best, and striving to improve – you see that growth in the results. We focus on working harder. We always want more, and that will never be lacking. You have to approach every day as an opportunity – it doesn’t matter if it’s a training session or a match. We love having the support of the Tardini and our fans beside us. But even when that’s not the case, like in Lecce, we still enjoy great backing, and we really value all the support the fans provide. Wherever the team is, we try to deliver a performance and always aim to achieve results.”
ORISTANIO AND ONDREJKA
“It’s a matter of perception if something seems to be missing from their performance. I’ve seen improvements, because everything depends on the perspective you use to make judgements. They’ve helped us push the opposition back, keep possession, and create situations from set-pieces. Too often, a performance is judged solely by goals or assists. For me, that’s important – the numbers matter – but I see much more than that. I see positive things, and I also see the areas where adding small improvements could lead to goals, assists, and an even greater impact on the team’s overall performance.”
