Collecchio, February 21, 2026 - Head Coach Carlos Cuesta spoke at the press conference, ahead of the matchday 26 fixture against Milan, in the Mutti Training Centre Press Conference Room.
HOW TO TAKE ON MILAN
“We will do it by being at our best and approaching the game with balance, but also with the clear belief that we’re going to San Siro to come away with points. Every match has to be faced with maximum concentration, with the determination to keep our positive momentum going, and with full awareness that we’re up against a very strong, difficult side. If we hit our top level, we have every chance of getting something from the game. Milan are adaptable, against Como, for example, they pressed aggressively man-to-man. In other matches they’re happy to give the ball to the opposition, stay compact and mark space, and at times they step up the pressure again. Their attacking approach changes depending on the opponent. They’re strong in every scenario. We have to play to our strengths. Depending on our selection, we might emphasise different aspects, but certain principles must always define who we are. With or without the ball, we need to find the right spaces, create problems for them, and be strong in both boxes, because that’s where games are decided. They have a clear identity, but within that there’s a lot of variation because of the depth of their squad. They’ve got players with diverse qualities that give them depth and flexibility. They’re a top side, not just because of their league position, but also because of the results they’ve put together since August: 24 games unbeaten. We know the quality we’re facing, but we’ll go into the match convinced we can get a result.”
FOCUSED ON OUR JOURNEY
“We’re focused on ourselves, on the performance and on being truly competitive tomorrow. That’s down to us. It’s about delivering the kind of display that reflects the work we put in every day and the qualities we already have. We can’t let ourselves be influenced by outside noise. I’m not talking about what happened in other matches, but when I mention the ‘environment’, I mean our own surroundings, because people can have certain perceptions based on our league position. Our job is to stick to the facts. Go to San Siro to get points, keep improving, stay focused on ourselves and block out everything else. We have to analyse things with balance. The fixture list at the start of the season was different from the run of games at the end of the first half of the campaign. We were also dealing with more injuries early on. And the understanding within the group, the chemistry, the clarity around what we expect, and the identity we want to instil in the players, has grown over time. Every process takes time. We know we’ve done some good things, but we also know there’s plenty of room to improve. We have to stay consistent with our work, working hard and working well, because we’re clear about our objectives. Results matter. But results come from performances, and strong performances come from the work we put in every day, on and off the pitch. That’s what ultimately makes the difference.”
MAX ALLEGRI, A SERIAL WINNER
“I don’t think it makes sense to compare me with Allegri. He’s achieved everything in football. He’s made history. I’m just at the beginning of my journey, so there’s no comparison to be made. What he’s done speaks for itself. Wherever he’s coached, he’s succeeded and won. He’s a benchmark in this profession. I’m just trying to give everything I can to help these players. I think nowadays there’s too much comparison and talk about ‘the football of this coach or that coach’. Our focus is on Parma playing to the best of our ability and being competitive in every game. And hopefully that will be the case tomorrow too. Fàbregas? He’s achieved more than I have as well. In his first season he earned promotion and then secured Serie A survival comfortably. But results alone don’t make one coach better than another. Football is a collective sport, there’s a team and a coach, but ultimately the biggest difference is made by the players. Just because one coach has achieved more in a certain context doesn’t automatically make him better than someone else in a different one. Every situation is unique. Comparisons don’t really tell the full story.”
TEAM CONDITION
“We need to assess Ndiaye’s availability. He returned to training with the group during the week. Drobnic will be available as well, and Mena has joined the squad too. We still have one final training session to go, so we’ll wait until then to make the final decisions.We’ll approach the game by trying to maximise our strengths and show our best version at San Siro. Suzuki? Zion hasn’t trained with the team yet. He’ll probably join the group in the coming days, maybe later this week.”
PELLEGRINO’S STRONG PERFORMANCE AGAINST VERONA
“The match against Verona presented a situation we haven’t often faced this season. We had to break down a defence that gave us very little space. In these scenarios, it’s difficult to create decisive moments. Mateo did well to create space for others, to pin defenders and open up opportunities for his teammates to cause danger. Most importantly, he stayed focused throughout and made the most of the chance when it came.”
THE IMPORTANCE OF ONDREJKA
“He is able to create danger consistently, both when playing wider and when moving inside. His link-up play, his one-vs-one ability, and his quality in finding the key pass make him a very important player. He was crucial in that match, and we hope he can continue to be influential in the games ahead.”
