Collecchio, 23 August 2024 - Fabio Pecchia spoke in a press conference at the Mutti Training Centre in Colecchio ahead of the second game in our league campaign, against AC Milan.

A BIG GAME

“We have worked hard in the last two years to play these kinds of games and face these kinds of players and coaches. We want to play this game with joy and we have to want to play. AC Milan's draw against Torino? They were losing with a few minutes to go, they came back and they almost won. This shows the strength of the squad when faced with Torino, who played a good game. Aside from the draw, I see a strong side. The value, level and depth of AC Milan is high. I ask my lads to continue playing with a free spirit, to want to play and face them. Hernández and Leão are one of the strongest duos in Serie A in terms of quality, physicality and talent. We need to take this into account and Coulibaly will have to work very well: it will be a good test for him, a good game to play'.

DESIRE TO PLAY

'What could make the difference? For us, it's the courage that we have shown, the desire to play, to do what we know how to do with speed and to play with our skills a game that represents a good test. Do I expect an aggressive AC Milan? I expect an AC Milan that want to play, get on us and do what it knows how to do by exploiting their own skills. I don't expect them to be passive: they are a strong side who will go all in on the ball as well as when pressing. We need to have the desire to help each other out, to work together and in our phases. We need to want to heal each other out as we will be faced with a good side'.

DELPRATO, ALMQVIST AND CANCELLIERI

“New arrivals? We will have Enrico Delprato back from suspension, then we have everyone from last week. Almqvist and Cancellieri, our new arrivals, are training well. Tomorrow, Delprato could also play in the middle but these assessments will be made at the last minute. They are all in a good condition and able to play. The best to play with Estévez? I've always changed it around. I take individual form during the week into account, then the kind of game, the opponents skills and the strategy. All the options are there and I still don't know who will play: the thing that helps me to decide is also the ability to change things while happening and, like we saw last Saturday, the possibility to start in one way and then change. What do I ask from Cancellieri? With respect to last week, both him and Almqvist have given something extra, playing 20 minutes against Fiorentina. Now, they have had another week, they have added something and, along with Pontus, are capable of covering all four roles in attack: this is a huge advantage because I have more cards up my sleeve to be played in line with the needs and form of players on the pitch.

FAITHFUL TO OUR GAME

'The match against Fiorentina? We created chances, scored a good goal and played with out usual speed going forwards, very aggressive. We were faithful to our way of being and we want to keep doing what we know how to do. What birthday present am I expecting? I want from my lads, what I already have: I want them to pick my present. Does our style of play suit Serie A? When you play these games, they push you to your limits and also bring up difficulties. We played a good game against Fiorentina but made some mistakes, things that maybe we didn't do in past games. We risked things against Fiorentina, especially at the start, more than needed. This game will help us correct things: we will stay true to our play but will also always add things because we need to be prepared for these games. Young side? There is a vision and ideal from the Club that has been clear from the start. This is my third year here and the Club wants to have young and high-quality players in the squad. I have worked with young sides in these years and I am enthusiastic, the desire to play and to see matches as a game are the skills of a young side and that the work has to comply with'.

SUPPORT OF OUR FANS

“The support from our fans? It's very important for us to keep them close, from the first to the last minute. We have to want to be supported by our fans, push and bring them great emotions. I think that last Saturday, we managed this, people were happy despite the final result. We have to continue down this road and we know the Parma public will respond. I think that we need to do well to live the games, live them intensely and give the right value to what has happened in past games, putting them aside. We need to take the good things from them and move ahead to the next game. I want to insist on the free spirit of this young group, we want to try to live each match as a game, bringing individual and collective growth along with the result. In all this, we want to bring excitement by playing and pass it on to those around us. Our aim is to do this all season'.