Collecchio, 23 November 2023 - Managing Director Sport Roel Vaeyens spoke to the programme 'Calcio e Calcio' on 12 TV Parma.

How do you judge Parma’s start to the season so far?

“We’ve had a good start to the season, not only in Serie B but also in the Coppa Italia with two wins. The squad is solid, we have played some good games with attractive football. We’re top of the table, having scored the most goals but we also realise there’s still a long way to go and we need to improve certain things, certain aspects of our game. Unfortunately, we lost our last game at Lecco. I hope that everybody is ready to start again with a win this weekend and then try to build up again towards a successful run until the end of the first half of the season.”

In your opinion, which teams will fight for promotion to Serie A with Parma?

“First of all, Serie B is a very difficult and very close championship with a lot of tight games, so every game is difficult for every team. I think the favourites are already at the top of the table: Palermo, Venezia, Cremonese, Como. But I don’t want to forget any other team because there are many quality ones in Serie B. But for us, for Parma Calcio, it’s important we focus on ourselves, and we focus on how we can improve every day, every game, to continue at this level.”

What has been Parma’s best quality, the main weapon so far?

“I think it is the collectivity of Parma Calcio. Of course, we have many good players with individual quality, but the Coach has already achieved in building a strong collective. The strongest weapon of Parma Calcio is we can create danger in many different ways with many different players. To give an idea, we did not only score the most goals but the most goals from many passes, so I think that says something about the collective strength of this team.”

Let’s talk about transfers. The agent, Becali, spoke about the transfer of Dennis Man, not in Janury but in the summer. What can you say about this?

“I agree that Dennis has had a good start to the season. He has been very important for the team, like some other players have. But Dennis also knows that he needs to confirm and prove he can keep up this level for a longer period and also excel in the top games that are still ahead of us. Regarding the summer transfer market, it’s still a long way off and it’s pure speculation at this moment.”

Many players renewed their contract in this period. What does this mean?

“It means that, above all, that Parma is doing well, the Club is doing well, not only on the pitch but also off the pitch, because the players believe in what we are doing, in what we have installed in the whole team: the technical staff, the medical staff, the scouting department, everybody contributes to the current success of Parma Calcio, so the players believe in it and we as a Club we believe in them, we want to continue with them, and it is also proof of the stability at the Club at this moment.”

The transfer window opens in January, will you be looking to add to the squad?

“So far, our performances have been really good and the squad contains quality. Some players, who have been injured, like Camara, Partipilo, and Valenti, are coming back. I don’t think we’ll make many signings, but obviously our Scouting department is always on the lookout for opportunties.”

Thankfully, many young Parma players have increased their value this season and fans are afraid they might lose them in January, like Benedyczak and others. What do you say to them?

“Like the fans, I’m really happy our young players are showing their potential this season. The aim of every player is to improve individually and collectively inside the squad. Every one of them, like the Club, has the ambition to win promotion to Serie A and have no intention of leaving the Club.

Final question. Parma has entered in the ECA Youth training project. What does it mean for the Club?

“It means a lot for the Club. First of all, it’s a reward for our youth department; it’s a reward for the good work they have delivered over the past years. It also means that Parma Calcio, as a Club, wants to invest in the youth department because we want to bring through and develop young players for the first team, which is already the case now. Parma is also in the top 3 of having the youngest squads in Serie B. And ECA is very interesting for the networking across Europe and it will give a lof of added value not only for our head of youth but also for the whole club.”