New Parma presented

By Football Italia staff

Officials from the new Parma outfit which has been granted Serie D entry have adressed fans and media today.

The Ducali were declared bankrupt at the end of last season, and have been forced to begin again as an amateur side, Parma Calcio 1913.

“There’s a lot of responsibility,” technical manager Lorenzo Minotti said at a Press conference.

“There’s an obligation to win at all costs, and to get back into the professional Leagues, so that must always be present in the mind of the new people.”

Minotti also praised captain Alessandro Lucarelli, who has opted to stay with the club while the work their way back up the Leagues.

“He’s a rock which we can build the team on. I think he has made a choice to carve his name into the history of Parma.

“In recent years he’s become an adopted Parmigiano, he loves the club, and wants to stay a part of this institution. Whether his role is on the pitch or behind a desk is still to be decided.

“In the meantime, he’s the only player we have, he’s already training at Coverciano, where he’ll also try to get his coaching licence.”

The town’s mayor Federico Pizzarotti also spoke at the event, and urged locals to get behind the new incarnation of Parma.

“I hope the city rallies round, and the Tardini will always be full,” Pizzarotti said.

“We have to put the recent history behind us, and start again from grassroots. Hopefully football can be born again in Parma.”

Former Coach Nevio Scala is the President of the new Ducali, and explained why he chose the staff.

“I have promised to do things seriously, and in a transparent manner, so choosing who to have alongside me was difficult, but well thought-out.

“Our staff is now complete. Until yesterday we were ‘illegal’, and those who are here were here on trust, no-one had a contract.

“I named Lorenzo Minotti as head of the technical sector. For the head of the youth sector, I chose Fausto Pizzi, who is working 24 hours a day. He and his colleagues don’t have a contract.

“When everything is clear then we’ll present everyone. Everything will be done within the rules, with transparency.

“I hope we can have the Tardini soon, like the mayor said, and this morning we got the good news that we’ll have [training ground] Collechio.”

image via @areaitalia

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