Pecchia: I feel I’m the right man in the right place at Parma

The Serie B league resumes on Friday, and one thing is certain: Parma is the standout favourite. The team, led by coach Fabio Pecchia, tops the leaderboard with a six-point lead. Pecchia recently spoke to La Gazzetta dello Sport about his impressions so far.

“I feel like the right man in the right place,” says Pecchia, as reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport.

He also believes that a coach’s worth should be measured by their work, not just the outcomes. The team has had a demanding six months, and despite their performance being good, the results have been inconsistent. He, however, states that this did not shake their confidence.

According to Pecchia, the club’s vision is to focus on younger players, and the efforts of the past 18 months are showing results. Building a team from a group is not an overnight process; it needs patience.

Having observed Parma from an outside perspective, Pecchia feels that he better understands the issues after joining the team. Cultural differences were a challenge, as the team consists of players representing 14 different nationalities. Understanding the B league and building a strong team took time.

“No, it’s not about having the lowest average age; it’s purely about talent development,” Pecchia replies when questioned if the team’s young average age is directly linked to their success.

His greatest satisfaction is hearing from the fans that they enjoy watching Parma play. Discussing former clubs, Pecchia acknowledges that each team required a different football style. For instance, Verona required more presence in the opponent’s area while Cremona preferred more ball-handling. Parma, on the other hand, has the players for a more vertical style of football.

Praise from Sacchi, who noticed the unique identity of the team during the Coppa Italia match in Florence, was cited by Pecchia as the greatest compliment he has received.