Parma’s staff are on message that they may have lost Sebastian Giovinco this summer and have survival as a priority, but they remain a strong side.
The Gialloblu finished last season on song, with a club-record seven-game winning streak propelling them to an eighth place finish.
Whilst Giovinco has been sold back to Juventus, the club have made plenty of movement in the market so far, which has left Coach Roberto Donadoni very excited for the second part of pre-season that begins today.
Parma’s staff are on message that they may have lost Sebastian Giovinco this summer and have survival as a priority, but they remain a strong side.
The Gialloblu finished last season on song, with a club-record seven-game winning streak propelling them to an eighth place finish.
Whilst Giovinco has been sold back to Juventus, the club have made plenty of movement in the market so far, which has left Coach Roberto Donadoni very excited for the second part of pre-season that begins today.
“It’s true, we have lost some players, or rather a certain player, but we still have great enthusiasm,” reflected Donadoni to the assembled media at the presentation for the club’s new shirts.
“Now we have an ideal mix of interesting players, young and old, who are ready to prove their worth.
“I cannot wait to take to the field this afternoon to begin training the team and to begin this new adventure.”
Club captain Stefano Morrone was on the same wavelength.
“We are continuing with our philosophy – humility, self-sacrifice and devotion to this shirt,” the midfielder promised.
“We ‘experienced’ members of the team must help all the younger members settle in, we must explain all our ideas and in particular our understanding of football.
“We want to have a good season maybe without suffering at the end of the table, instead taking some satisfaction for the campaign.
“I say to the fans to stay calm because we will, as always, on the pitch.”
Sporting director Pietro Leonardi then added his view to the club’s pre-season preparations and ambition.
“We have worked hard. We are confident that we have made the most of our ideas so far and we begin with the knowledge that we have done a lot.
“We are missing just a few tweaks to the squad. We have a great Coach and we are ready, it’s just that Parma is never satisfied in the face of dreams.
“The first goal is survival. Then if that comes soon, we can try for other targets. As long as the TV revenue is distributed by merit and not by history and fan-base, then we can afford to have other ambitions.”
Donadoni has named 31 players for the club’s second pre-season camp that begins today.