Beppe Iachini hopes he isn’t recalled by Palermo, but is still cheering for the Rosanero this season.
The Coach was dismissed by President Maurizio Zamparini following a win over Chievo, with Davide Ballardini taking over.
Beppe Iachini hopes he isn’t recalled by Palermo, but is still cheering for the Rosanero this season.
The Coach was dismissed by President Maurizio Zamparini following a win over Chievo, with Davide Ballardini taking over.
The fiery patron has intimated that he could recall Iachini later in the season, as he’s still being paid, but the tactician would prefer to stay away.
“I have a good relationship with Zamparini,” Iachini insisted, speaking to Corriere dello Sport.
“We came together in a difficult situation, angry fans, Palermo in [Serie] B. We had to start a new project, and we did it, though it wasn’t easy.
“As happens in even the most beautiful marriages, moments of misunderstanding come along.“Zamparini talked about bad play? The President thinks one thing, the Coach thinks another. We’re similar, we’re stubborn, and I mean that nicely.
“I was proud to be there for a long time, thanks to results.
“If Zamparini recalls me? I hope it doesn’t happen, I’m cheering for Palermo, because they deserve it.”
Last season saw a deadly partnership in Sicily between Paulo Dybala and Franco Vazquez, with the former earning a move to Juventus.
Vazquez has been linked with a move to Milan next summer, and Iachini had high praise for both of his former players.
“Dybala? Zamparini and I were in agreement on him. When I arrived at Palermo I deployed him as a second striker, behind [Abel] Hernandez.
“The more I worked with him, the more I realised that he showed greater talent close to the goal. The more time passed, the more I wanted to play him as the main striker.
“Paulo’s game is based on dribbling and possession, and I wanted to have him closer to the centre-backs.
“Between [Carlos] Tevez and Dybala, I go with Dybala, no doubt. We’ll never know if Tevez would have had the same impact at Juventus at 20.
“Paulo is a mature lad, if I had a daughter I’d give him her hand in marriage. When I was sacked he sent me a message of solidarity.
“Vazquez, in my opinion, is a secondary striker. Franco is like [Roberto] Baggio or like [Alessandro] Del Piero, not midfielders, but more secondary strikers.”
Finally, the Coach was asked about his future, and whether he sees his next job being in Serie A or Serie B.
“I think I’ve done my apprenticeship,” Iachini said.
“I feel much stronger. At Palermo we played good football and achieved the record.”