Collecchio, 26 October 2024 - Head Coach Fabio Pecchia shared his thoughts on our ninth league game of the season against Empoli in his press conference, given in the press room at Mutti Training Centre in Collecchio.

THE RENEWAL WITH THE GIALLOBLU

'I'm happy, and you? It's a lovely moment, exciting, but as I've always said, the most important thing in football is the next match. It's been a week my head and view looking towards the Empoli match. The renewal of the staff? We have to create a working environment, because it is fundamental. From the warehouse worker to the caretaker, because that’s how it all works. It’s too reductive to just focus on the forwards who have to score 20 goals. A context just like this, working, if there are the conditions to go into an environment, to work with enthusiasm, everyone is excited and ready to do more and improve, this is what allows us to go on and get results. It’s an important step for my staff, we’re here because of the work of the guys and everything in between. It’s a thank you to the Club, to Krause and all of those who have worked with me and allowed me to express my work. Having said this, we have to continue and maintain a calm working environment, because our objective this year is important and we can only achieve it if we’re all together and pushing in one direction”. 

FOCUS ON THE WIN 

“For us, the most important match is Sunday’s one, I have to make a choice based on our characteristics and theirs. It is quite difficult to score, I need to find ways to get goals for us. Insisting, insisting, insisting on the desire to want to play and take part in the matches. We need good displays to be able to go on and win the matches. We have shown that we know how to play good football, now we need to put everything into getting the win. We showed solidity right until the final moment against Como, but also a sense of desire to try and win the game. The beauty started a while ago, there are no easier or simpler games for Parma. We’ve seen this throughout Serie A, we have to continue showing this level of performance. The focus has to be on improving our performances to get the win. That has to be the main objective. Our idea is to be vertical, using our players and our qualities to the best of our abilities. There are some moments in which we need to get the win. The performances are there, but we just have to push a bit more on that road”. 

THE CONDITIONS OF THE SQUAD 

“The state of the team? Good news, in terms of Osorio he’s there and will be with the group soon. On Sunday, everyone will be called up, Benedyczak and Estévez will also be there, given their distance from the pitch. Small steps and signs to have a competitive and performing group. On the pitch? Nahuel has been out for two months, he might be able to get some minutes but there is a type of hierarchy within the squad especially as some players have played more minutes than others. Benek is showing good signs, because for him the injury has been a bit longer and seeing him on the field in training, with a sense of continuity, is a great sign”. 

THE ORGANISATION OF EMPOLI

“We’re facing a team with numbers at hand and the second best defence in the league, therefore the goal is to take apart a team, a squad that have a great sense of organisation, that work well and deserve to be where they are in the league. Not just the match against Napoli, but also in the one in Rome against Lazio they had some problems and lost in the final minutes. I’ve always seen them as a team with a precise and clear idea, therefore they deserve compliments. The field speaks for D’Aversa, the job is to be done on the field, for us the match will be about knowing when to press, press again and re-press. Maintaining and playing at speed, using our best qualities in the middle of the pitch and ahead”. 

THE STORY OF ROBERTO D’AVERSA 

“Roberto’s story is more important than mine at Parma. He won two league titles, engineered two great escapes in Serie A, he’s a big part of the history here. I would like to follow in his footsteps, at an ambitious club like this with an important history, because being part of a Club is always a motivation of great satisfaction. Everyone has their own ways and does what they believe in, there are many ways to win games. Empoli are a side with clear and precise ideas among all of its players, not just in defence and on the counter attack. Given the previous season, the team is full of quality and the work standard is even higher. They do things with a certain conviction”.