Carlos Cuesta doesn't shy away from the concept on the eve of the Maradona match against Napoli, a rescheduled Serie A matchday 16 fixture. The opponent's stature may have changed, the context may have changed, but Parma's objective remains the same. "We're focused on seeking points, aware of the opponent's difficulty, the atmosphere, and the importance of the match for their Scudetto ambitions," the Spanish coach explained in a press conference, acknowledging the team's daily work. "We must appreciate what these guys are doing to represent Parma in the best possible way, to bring results, to consolidate the club in Serie A, to play better every day. Points are available in every match; they're three points up for grabs, and we have to go for them and bring them home."
Parma, however, will not arrive in Naples with a full squad. The injury situation is weighing heavily on their choices, and Cuesta makes this clear in no uncertain terms. "Suzuki, Ndiaye, Frigan, Løvik, Guaita, or even Almqvist will be missing, as he finished his training session with a minor injury." It will therefore be necessary to rely on those who are physically and tactically most ready. "We will choose the most suitable players, both in terms of freshness and the type of match we expect and what we want to achieve. Cutrone is part of our plans; he's training and is available to lend us a hand, as always."
Speaking of Napoli, Cuesta makes no secret of his admiration for a team he describes as complete and structured. "In terms of identity, they're very consistent. They want to press high to get the ball as quickly as possible and score goals. They want to attack spaces. They know how to play both short and long. They have the ability to find the striker with Milinkovic-Savic's long passes." Dominating possession, he admits, will be difficult. "I don't think we'll have the ball like Inter did; it seems difficult to me. But we have our chances. We need to be very humble, fight and suffer together." The Neapolitans' strength, according to Cuesta, emerges especially when they attack the penalty area en masse. "They're very strong when they charge with many quality men, on set pieces, in space, and even when they run. They're champions of Italy and won the Super Cup. I don't need to explain what Napoli are. They're a very strong team, but we know there's space and opportunities to go where we want to go, and that's what we'll try."
From the team to the coach, Cuesta had some significant words for Antonio Conte. "He's an absolute role model; he's won five league titles and the Premier League. I was also fortunate or unfortunate enough to face him in England and see how quickly he adapted to Tottenham, with very clear codes and principles and a very specific identity tailored to the players' qualities." A clear assessment that goes beyond a single match. "A coach who has won so much, at so many clubs and in so many different countries, is an absolute role model because he's a winner from whom you can learn so much; he's always been a master. I don't know how much his absence from the bench will weigh tomorrow."
Parma arrives in Naples also buoyed by their recent comeback win against Lecce, a sign of growth and maturity. "The lads had the maturity to read the game's moments, they were good at creating and converting opportunities in their numerical superiority," Cuesta concluded. "These lads deserve better, they deserve more positive feedback, and they deserve to have everything they're doing appreciated."
Source EDITORIAL TEAM
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