Collecchio, 5 December 2024 – This is what Coach Fabio Pecchia had to say from the Mutti Training Center in Collecchio ahead of Parma’s matchday 15 clash with Inter in Serie A:

INTER

'This season, there’s the need to leave the past behind and focus on the next match. On Friday, against Inter, who I would call a giant given what they’re doing in Italy and Europe, we’ll have another big match where we’ll be looking to use our strengths. From Inter, I expect to see what we’ve seen from all the teams at the upper end of the table: incredible physical and technical strnegth. We need to have this in mind, but we also have to play with character, strength and energy. When we have the energy, we should try to play football and score goals because the aim is to score and win. For us, every game should be like adding another brick. We need to take something with us from each match, bring it along with us and go into the subsequent ones with more knowledge. I tell my players to play from the first minute. They will force us to do some defensive work and the pitch will open up, but we can’t limit ourselves to off-the-ball work. We need to play like we know we can, playing in the spaces and at speed. Hernani has recovered and is back with the group. Inter demonstrate their strength whoever they play, both in Italy and Europe. They held their own against Arsenal, Leipzig and Manchester City. Friday’s match will be a step up from Atalanta and Lazio.”

100 MATCHES

“Reaching 100 matches with Parma is a great feeling. However, I haven’t been thinking about it because my focus has been on the match. It’s gratifying and a fantastic feeling.'

CAPTAIN ENRICO DELPRATO

“Enrico always wants to improve and is continuously evolving. His goal against Lazio was full of quality; it’s not easy for a central defender to dribble forward like he did. It’s further proof of the professionalism of a guy who is reaping the rewards of consistent hard work.”

MANAGING YOUNGSTERS’ EMOTIONS

“What Anas did against Lazio is part of the evolution of a player. He produced a great performance and experienced great emotions. There was also the feeling of satisfaction after the game, moments that need to be experienced. All of this is important for the lads’ development both technically and on a human level. Giovanni Leoni did well and could play again, but I need to manage our young players and the group and do so carefully.”

SIMONE INZAGHI

“I can’t add much about Simone’s value, what he’s done and what he continues to do. I can only congratulate him. We crossed paths at an award ceremony and I told him he owed me something after the Coppa Italia match two years ago. That match is part of the past, and we’ve changed a few players since then. There will be a great atmosphere, and I’ll tell my lads to go for it from the first minute.”

SHARED VISION WITH THE CLUB

“We’re in a very unusual situation: three important players have serious injuries and will probably be out for the entire season. This, of course, affects the squad. That said, there is a clear and shared vision here: to continue to have a competitive, sustainable and young team. We’ll have the January transfer window and then the summer one, and there will be opportunities to work in that direction, always with the clear idea of creating a young and competitive team.”