Palermo vs Parma preview - Amoruso seeks immediate Serie A return

Posted Saturday, May 18, 2013 by PA

New Palermo director of sport Nicola Amoruso has rallied fans of the relegated club to throw their support behind concerted efforts to seal an instant return to Serie A.

The Sicilians' successful nine-year spell in the top flight comes to an end after Sunday's home meeting with Parma, with a host of star players including Josip Ilicic and Fabrizio Miccoli expected to feature at the Stadio Renzo Barbera for the last time.

President Maurizio Zamparini has now chosen former Juventus and Parma striker Amoruso to join forces with director Giorgio Perinetti and rebuild the Rosanero from top to bottom.

At his unveiling, he told La Repubblica: "The risk that we run is to underestimate the division. Serie B is not an easy league.

"We need to adapt to our new reality and I want to build a team with the characteristics that could bring us immediate promotion.

"It will be team effort. I will collaborate with director Perinetti on everything related to the management team, transfer market and scouting.

"There may be times of suffering in a club's history but if the fans' devotion to the team is strong, they will be the key to our revival.

"Their enthusiasm and confidence will be crucial and we are relying heavily on them."

Wing-back Andrea Dossena and goalkeeper Stefano Sorrentino face late fitness tests with attacking midfielder Ilicic's involvement also in doubt.

The Slovenian, who missed last week's 1-0 defeat at Fiorentina is undergoing an intense course of treatment while fellow midfielders Jasmin Kurtic and Santiago Garcia serve suspensions.

Parma boss Roberto Donadoni, meanwhile, is without midfielders Sotiris Ninis and Marco Marchionni due to injury and suspension respectively.

The Gialloblu can finish no higher than 10th at the end of a disappointing season, which most recently saw Bologna win the Emilian derby 2-0 at the Stadio Ennio Tardini, but midfielder Marco Parolo thinks victory in Sicily would provide some consolation.

He told Gazzetta.it: "I'm sorry because winning would have been the best way to celebrate the 20-year anniversary of us winning the Cup Winners' Cup at Wembley in 1993.

"So we want to bounce back immediately and we head to Palermo to get a result."