Parma’s head coach Fabio Pecchia spoke candidly ahead of the team’s crucial Serie A match against AC Milan, acknowledging the difficulty of the upcoming challenge while maintaining an optimistic approach.
Pecchia emphasized that every match must be played from start to finish, highlighting Parma’s determination. “All matches must be played initially and until the end,” he stated. “The game tomorrow will be different from our home match. In play are three points, and we know who we are facing. Our behaviour and desire to take the field remains the same: to play to win.”
Recognizing Milan’s strength, Pecchia outlined Parma’s tactical approach: “Milan’s power will force us to spend a lot of time in a non-possession phase and remain deep. We are facing a European giant with all its quality. We must execute our defensive phase and then be proactive with the ball, forcing them to chase us.”
The coach provided insights into the team’s availability. Bonny will miss the match due to fever, as Pecchia confirmed: “Bonny remains out, he stayed out this week.” However, other players are returning to fitness. “Djuric, Ondrejka, and Lovik are close to being able to play; it’s just a matter of adaptation,” he explained. “Ondrejka played eighty minutes last week, Djuric has experience. I’m happy, they are in good condition and able to be part of the game.”
Regarding player conditions, Pecchia noted, “Nahuel [Estevez] has one more week of training and is in better condition. Bernabé has done some group training, but he won’t be available tomorrow, though we are very close.”
He also highlighted potential tactical flexibility, particularly with Djuric’s arrival: “Some joked that now they can cross the ball. Since I’ve been here, we’ve always tried to play on the ground, especially in the area, with quality. Now we have an important alternative – he’s a great header with presence in the area. It’s about adapting to characteristics, but it won’t totally change our philosophy.”
Pecchia welcomed new club executive Federico Cherubini, describing him as “a great professional with international experience” and noting their previous work together at Juventus would be “an added value for both of us.”
The coach expressed particular confidence in players like Drissa Camara, stating, “Drissa continues to impress me. He has entered well and is gaining continuity. For me, the quality of work during the match is important, whether from the start or during the game.”
Regarding Denis Man, Pecchia expects a strong performance: “I expect a lot from him and from everyone. This week he has worked at full capacity. At Genoa, he didn’t start well, but on Sunday he was very positive. I’m happy about that, and he should be too.”
Despite being in a challenging position just one point above the relegation zone, Parma approaches the match with fighting spirit. “We have inserted players with important human values,” Pecchia concluded. “It’s never simple to do this mid-season. We need support not just technically but also humanly within the group, to create a strong team that can face this end of the season with compactness and unity.”
