Parma coach Roberto D’Aversa said he has ‘slept very little’ in the last six months and admitted this season ‘taught me much more than the other years’.
The Gialloblu have been relegated to Serie B and intend to ‘honour the championship’ when they travel to Liguria for the last match in 2020-21 against Sampdoria on Saturday.
After eight consecutive defeats in the top flight, D’Aversa was asked at a press conference if it would be his last with the Crociati.
Parma coach Roberto D’Aversa said he has ‘slept very little’ in the last six months and admitted this season ‘taught me much more than the other years’.
The Gialloblu have been relegated to Serie B and intend to ‘honour the championship’ when they travel to Liguria for the last match in 2020-21 against Sampdoria on Saturday.
After eight consecutive defeats in the top flight, D’Aversa was asked at a press conference if it would be his last with the Crociati.
“It will certainly be the last pre-match conference of this campaign,” he told the reporters. “I want to thank all the people who work around Parma every day, both on and off the pitch.
“Of course, what I want to say, is that I’m sorry about the final outcome, but I think it’s normal for those who have been here for some time and have done something important to get out of the particular situation Parma were in.
“There’s regret. What I feel like saying is that the fans continue to show affection, as they have always done.”
The coach has spent four years at Parma, as he was initially replaced by Fabio Liverani ahead of the current campaign, but returned to help the club in the fight for safety after a difficult start to the season.
“It’s been a long time here in Parma. I think we need to think about going to Genoa to have a good game,” he said. “They celebrated their 30th anniversary of the Scudetto just now.
“There will be a good atmosphere and we will try to honour the championship, as we have done in all the games.
“We will try to avoid some mistakes that have relegated us, but I think the lads have given their all.”
D’Aversa was coy about his own future at the Ennio Tardini and admitted the last six months at the Crociati has ‘taught me much more than the other years’.
“The only certain thing is that I have another year on my contract,” he said. “We will sit down and evaluate, from Monday.
“This year has taught me much more than the other years when excellent things were achieved.
“In recent months I have slept very little, I have not lived this last part of the championship well.
“These six months will serve me more, and it will be time to say what worked and what didn’t. I’m receiving more affection now and I thank everyone, because Parma show that in times of difficulty, they always react with attachment to the team.”