Napoli vs Parma preview - History no weight on Donadoni - Lenonardi

Posted Sunday, September 16, 2012 by PA

Parma's general manager Pietro Leonardi does not expect his coach Roberto Donadoni to adopt a different approach for Sunday's trip to Napoli, even though he has a history with the Campanian club.

Donadoni preceded Walter Mazzarri on the Napoli bench and he may feel he was not given enough of a chance before being dismissed only seven months after taking charge.

But that should not influence his approach tomorrow, according to Leonardi - a man who has full faith in him.

"Donadoni is a great coach and I know him well. He will not change anything just because we are playing Napoli, or any other club for that matter," he told Radio Marte.

"He always asks for the best from his players. I don't think he will feel any need to gain revenge for being sacked.

"He plays every game with respect for the opposition and with the aim of getting the best possible result."

That endeavour could be aided by the improved state of the pitch at the Stadio San Paolo after widespread condemnation of the surface when Fiorentina visited on the opening day of the season.

With a Europa League tie against AIK on the horizon, Napoli decided to change the pitch completely rather than wait for nature to take its course after a mushroom infestation caused irreparable damage during the summer.

"Against Parma on Sunday, the pitch at the San Paolo will be in perfect condition," the Italian Football League's head agronomist Giovanni Castelli to Radio Kiss Kiss.

"We have all worked hard to get a perfect result for the Parma game. We decided to relay the entire pitch because, sadly, nature was unable to take its course.

"The method of relaying the pitch has reached such a level of quality that it can be played upon as soon as the work has been finished."

Napoli will hope their results do not change on the new surface, though, having won both their previous games this season to share the lead in Serie A with Juventus and Lazio.