quote:

Maurizio Zamparini called Palermo Coach Beppe Iachini “an idiot who has gone mad, now we’ll see if Davide Ballardini accepts a return.”

The club President spoke to Radio 24 show La Zanzara this evening and his comments suggest there’s no way back.

“I don’t know why he’s angry, that’s his problem. Now he wants to leave, the players and I are trying to stop him. This is one of those years. Guillermo Schelotto went to Boca, Iachini’s going too. All we need is my resignation and we’ve got a full house.

“Now I have to call Ballardini and see if he’ll accept a return. I am struggling here. (Sometime caretaker manager Fabio) Viviani? For the love of God no! What’s he got to do with anything?”

It has to be said, Zamparini’s technique for convincing Iachini to stay might need some work.

“He’s gone mad, he’s no longer Iachini. He refuses to dialogue with the club.

“Iachini won’t accept me telling him to put the team out better on the field. Can a President not talk about his own team? Have we lost our minds? Why do people always defend the Coaches?

“Iachini is an idiot. He’s making the team play badly and over the last 13 games the average is 0.7 points per match and he won’t even accept that we tell him ‘for ****sakes, try to play a bit better.’

“Iachini has a losing mentality and he doesn’t give a drat either. His contract is set to expire and he probably already has a deal with another club."

Palermo are currently fourth from bottom, only one point clear of Frosinone and the relegation zone.

“I am not going into Serie B. We will finish seven points ahead of Frosinone, who have Serie B players, while our squad belongs in Serie A.”

The situation in Sicily is rarely calm, but has become positively explosive over the last few months since Iachini was originally sacked on November 10.

Ballardini came in and was fired with legal action for ‘breach of contract’ after a player coup on January 11, so the contract has already been rescinded.

The last two months have been utter chaos with a series of four different caretaker managers until Iachini was recalled on February 10.

There are now multiple reports Ballardini will return to Palermo tomorrow.

Woodenlung posted:

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“he doesn’t give a drat either."

Gigi Galli posted:

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"I got rid of him because the team wasn’t delivering. After that I did not sack Ballardini. He wanted to change the goalkeeper without my authorisation"

“I always exchanged ideas with my Coaches, because I think that I understand football and believe decisions should be shared, though naturally I am not the one who makes the line-up,” continued the President.

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A fan urged Zamparini to quit instead, because he was dragging the club towards relegation.

“It was only one fan. I still believe our team belongs in the top half of the table. Today I tried to motivate the team and everything that happened today was not meant to end up in the papers. The fans admire me. I am 75 years old and in June I will leave. I might even quit next week. Around three months ago I asked Giovanni Trapattoni if he wanted to be President of Palermo. He said no, but I think I have the solution in mind."

Does Zamparini think perhaps he went a bit overboard with some of his criticism, for example calling Iachini an ‘idiot’ on radio today?

“I said certain things to try and fire up the team. Journalists said similar things too. This week I’ll resign, because I’m fed up.

Sandwolf posted:

Odds he actually retires? Zero?

Gigi Galli posted:

Yeah he's been saying this for about 10 years.

Seltzer posted:

You have to admit they are a pretty likable team
https://streamable.com/a2sn

Seltzer posted:

You have to admit they are a pretty likable team
https://streamable.com/a2sn

trem_two posted:

Just a note for anybody that wasn't aware, Juve play Sassuolo tonight (in 2 hours) due to the CL match next week.

canepazzo posted:

And Berardi accidentally misses the match vs his own team - for the third time in 3 years. Seems he's going for Di Natale's record vs. Napoli!

Gigi Galli posted:

Walter Novellino, better know as a player than a manager I think, though he's managed a ton of teams that I wasn't aware of, is now Palermo's manager. RIP.

Gigi Galli posted:

Goddamn Dybala is so good

Simone Poodoin posted:

Eder has been a huge transfer flop so far.