Parma, 24 September 2023 - Crociato coach, Fabio Pecchia’s comments following Parma vs Sampdoria on Matchday 6 of the Serie BKT Championship.
“We played a game of rhythm, quality and substance. We wanted to remain in the game, we got it in the final minutes but today I must congratulate my team because they played the best match of their season. I have never seen Sampdoria in difficulty, so the table should not deceive anyone. They may be having problems in the table but not at all with their performances. We gave a sumptuous performance, I am very happy. The draw rewarded my boy’s efforts, we gave a strong performance. Now let's go back to the data and statistics. At Catanzaro we scored with every chance, today we lacked the precision and guise. But I saw a mature and serious team, we did everything with great humility. We have to be content, as does the entire crowd. Because now they are trying: even today in the pre-game there was talk of a breakaway. The championship has barely begun, Parma are doing their thing; to think they can win every game is the ambition. The team must be focused on this. And also the atmosphere: again today, after the Derby, a full Tardini, a massive party. We enjoy it and are holding on to it, but every game will be very complicated. Everyone must be in, I liked the approach, right, different from Catanzaro. And this is another step forward. I always continue to see the light, I like the dark little but the shady areas even less. At a time when it seemed that we had nothing left to give, we had the desire in our heads to go out and get the equaliser. I saw a conscious team that stayed together, a much calmer team. And this is why I was talking about light-heartedness, in the second half we stayed together and stayed in the game. The market? I spoke about this last time, in the middle of the pitch it wasn't so much a question of Estévez's alternative but of having more players, because in the middle, the way we play, it's taxing. Estévez has certain characteristics, Bernabé has others, this does not mean that you cannot play without Estévez or without Bernabé. The team must maintain its identity regardless of the individual. Bari? From tonight we start to think, many came out exhausted after Samp.”