On the eve of the Bologna-Parma match, Parma manager Fabio Pecchia shared his insights on the upcoming opponents during a press conference. Pecchia highlighted Bologna’s key characteristics, stating, “They are a very flexible team with many rotations, lots of players pushing forward, and very aggressive – similar to Fiorentina in recent years. They are a team capable of executing the offensive phase well.”
When asked about strategies to contain Bologna’s midfield maestro Freuler, Pecchia emphasized the importance of focusing on the team as a whole rather than individuals. He remarked, “I believe it’s not a matter of singling out players. Bologna is a Champions League-caliber team, regardless of who plays, as we saw against Liverpool. They have a competitive squad where anyone can play, but I see a beautiful team with courage and a precise identity. We must approach the entire team with great attention.”
Addressing Bologna’s flexible 4-3-3 formation, which features midfielders and center-backs joining the attack, Pecchia acknowledged the potential challenges. He reiterated, “They are a very flexible team with many rotations, lots of players pushing forward, and very aggressive – similar to Fiorentina in recent years. We must be able to defend with great desire and attention, but above all, execute our attacking phase effectively.”
When questioned about whether the strength of both teams’ wide players could be the key to the match, Pecchia offered a broader perspective. He explained, “That’s a limiting view. Clearly, both teams have a precise identity. We want to come inside with our wide players and play our game, developing quickly. We’ll need to be good at reading situations in midfield. We’ve studied them, and it will require a deep and very mature interpretation of the game.”
