Roberto Donadoni has promised that his Parma players will approach Milan ‘in the right spirit’, by believing that they can take points from Week 28's game.
Roberto Donadoni has promised that his Parma players will approach Milan ‘in the right spirit’, by believing that they can take points from Week 28's game.
The Ducali welcome the Rossonero League leaders to the Ennio Tardini this Saturday evening without a win from the last six rounds of action. Even so, former Diavolo man Donadoni has assured fans that his players will not be overly anxious for this weekend’s test.
“There won’t be a barricade, we’ll also be playing – we can get some points,” the former Italy Coach declared on Friday.
“That there is fear is healthy, physiologically, but it is also correct that there is an equally healthy awareness [from my players] of their own ability.
“We are against a team that is leading the League and we know that both the individual and the collective will have to be on form. This is our goal.”
Donadoni dismissed the notion that special attention will be given to top scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
“Milan is composed of great players, not just him. In these cases where the level is so high, when you think of a player to block, maybe you will remove him from the game but it still leaves others open.
“That’s why I say the game will need to see us at our maximum, because we are against not just one opponent, but the team.
“For example, up until a few months ago, very few people could see what [Antonio] Nocerino could do, but his game has drawn a great benefit from being part of a group at a high level.”
The 48-year-old also had a positive outlook on his current side’s ability to turn around their current run of form.
“In this period we have not been thrashed by opponents. We see the glass as half full rather than half empty.
“We have made life difficult for others. Let us now build upon this with better finishing and results.
“The most important thing is to have a positive attitude. Playing with the handbrake on would mean that we haven’t understood the spirit of competing at this level.
“If you allow teams like Milan to play at their own pace then they will always be decisive in the game.
“We must try to take wear them out because technically we are inferior. We acknowledge this, but not by much.
“We do not need refereeing assistance – with pace and determination we have the right cards to win some points.”