Parma, 17 August 2025- The statements from defender Emanuele Valeri, made at the end of the Parma vs. Pescara match in the first round of the Coppa Italia Frecciarossa.

“I believe we played a great game. There are just a few things we need to fine-tune in training so that we can be as sharp as possible against Juventus next week. Pescara didn’t have a single shot on goal? That’s a great sign for us because it gives us confidence heading into the league.

Pellegrino? We coordinate our moves and passes effectively in training (crosses, editor’s note) because he’s very strong in the air, moves well inside the box, and I can deliver quality crosses to him. I’m happy he scored those two goals because he’s always looking to score, even in training.

The shoe-shining celebration? It’s just a celebration we do; we’ll see if it makes a return during the league.

My position? The coach asks me to play as a wing-back, and I’m always ready to do whatever he asks, even if I have to play full-back, striker, or midfielder. Any role is fine as long as it helps the team.

Does Parma play with a lot of forward runs? Our aim is the same as last year. Even last season, we had this approach under the coach. Maybe this year we’ve refined it a little, but we always attack the space in numbers. When the chances come, we’ll be able to score. Obviously, against Pescara it’s a different kind of match compared to the one on Sunday, which we’ll have to prepare for in a different way.

The difference compared to previous years? I felt good both with Pecchia, whom I had known for a long time, and with Chivu, who came in mid-season and gave us a big hand; he understood us as a team. Cuesta is a different kind of coach. He asks different things of us, but he brings a lot of energy, he has a real desire to do well, and that’s important with a young team. What matters most, of course, will be the results, but the approach is the right one.

How’s the team feeling? The training intensity is evaluated by the fitness coach, not me. We just do what we’re told. The training camp was heavy, and that’s how it should be, but now we’ll start easing off a little.

How are we doing? I thought we did well today...”