Palermo President Maurizio Zamparini told Coach Devis Mangia to change his tactics. “He doesn't have the men for a 4-4-2.”
Palermo President Maurizio Zamparini told Coach Devis Mangia to change his tactics. “He doesn't have the men for a 4-4-2.”
The notoriously hands-on patron is not new to giving public lectures about what choices his tactician ought to make and stepped out after Saturday's 3-0 defeat to Milan.
“I didn't say the 4-4-2 was obsolete, but simply that this team was built by one Coach thinking about another system, so he doesn't have the men for a 4-4-2,” revealed Zamparini.
“How we do we resolve the issue? That's down to him and our director Sean Sogliano. I only pointed out the team was constructed to play as we did last year, with 4-3-1-2 or 4-3-2-1.
“We also talked about the lack of aggression in the side, because we did not see the same fiery Palermo as in the opening games. I hope it was just an off day.”
There were fears Mangia would be sacked following that defeat to Milan, especially as he was only brought in when Stefano Pioli was axed days before the season began.
“That's just media talk. I confirmed all my faith in Mangia. Clearly we have a young Coach with no Serie A experience. Against Milan I'd have put a man-marker on Zlatan Ibrahimovic for the whole game. We didn't do that and paid the price.
“I expect a whole other Palermo performance against Roma. I didn't say Mangia is Palermo's Arsene Wenger, but that he will become it.”