Palermo close to the Champions League

As Palermo reclaimed the fourth spot in the standings following this afternoon’s victory over Livorno, coach Delio Rossi refused to get caught in the wave of emotions as he looks to take things one week at a time in the race for Europe.

“We are still breathing the winter air,” he declared to SkySport after being probed on his side’s chances of qualifying for the Champions League.

“The city of Palermo must continue to reason in a serious manner, and it is important we don’t get too carried away.

“I am a rational person but am also instinctive. We missed the chance to go ahead early on but we were clever to take advantage when the timing was right.

“If we don’t take on these encounters with the right level of tension, then we simply cannot win them. After a long series of positive results, it is easy to start taking things for granted.”

“Being the side we are, however, we simply have to remain on the ground and start each game with the right mentality. If we do this, then we are a match for anyone,” he concluded.


Source: Goal.com

Palermo coach Delio Rossi hardly slept after the victory over Juventus in Turin

Palermo coach Delio Rossi is proud of his side’s 2-0 win over Juventus, so much so that he hardly slept following the game.

“I only slept an hour because I started to respond to all these messages, but I am not good with technology, so it took forever,” Rossi told Telegiornale di Sicilia referring to messages of congratulations after the win in Turin.

Goals from Fabrizio Miccoli and Igor Budan sent Palermo into fourth, and Rossi acknowledged improvement compared to recent games.

“When we played in Milan were went on the pitch unaware, but it was different against Juventus as we played for something against an important team,” he concluded.

Source: Goal.com

Roma vs. Palermo: can the goalfest be repeated?

These two sides played out a six goal thriller in Sicily back in September, and given Palermo’s approach in their last three games under Delio Rossi, there’s every chance that there’ll be more goals in the early evening Saturday game at the Stadio Olimpico.

After seeing the dignity with which Rossi negotiated his shoddy treatment at Lazio, it’s great to see him doing such a good job at Palermo, and after a fairly cautious start to his time in charge, he really has the men in pink playing. They were brilliant in the 3-0 dismissal of Fiorentina, desperately gung ho in that 4-2 defeat in Bari, and a mixture of both against Parma last week when they won 2-1.

Roma are on an unbelievable run of form, having won their last 8 in all competitions, and even though they’re not the free scoring side of old, they’re still a team which is happy to get involved in an open game if the opposition come to play that way, and that’s exactly what I think that Palermo will do. Roma are the likelier winners, but I don’t think that 1.76 offers much value. I’m happier to take a bigger price about there being four goals or more.

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Kick Off: Saturday, February 13, 2010, 18:00 CET.
Stadio Olimpico, Rome.

Good news for Palermo fans

Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini insists Fabrizio Miccoli will be staying at the club, despite rampant speculation he was in the course of leaving.

The hitman was substituted after missing a penalty against Napoli on Sunday as the teams drew 0-0. There was widespread talk that a laser was shone in the player’s eyes as he took the kick, making him miss.

Miccoli looked annoyed as he was taken off and claimed he was really disappointed after the game.

However, Zamparini has put the sweeteners on the gloom, claiming Miccoli is happy in Sicily, and that he has no plans to leave.

“Miccoli is a great player and he is happy to stay with Palermo. We must not create a problem. It’s normal for a player who is attached to the shirt to be upset when he comes off,” the chief told 7 Gold.

“I repeat, we must not create a case where one doesn’t exist.”

Source Goal.com

Catania Sign Former Barcelona Striker Maxi Lopez

Catania have captured former Barcelona striker Maxi Rodriguez from FK Moscow, the club have announced.

Lopez has been playing in Brazil for Gremio on loan, but he arrives in Sicily on a permanent basis and has signed a four-year deal.

More at Goal.com

Palermo wins against Atalanta

Palermo midfielder Javier Pastore enjoyed his side’s 1-0 win over Atalanta in Sicily, claiming it was fundamental for their confidence. The Rosanero starlet also spoke about his experience adapting to Italian football since arriving from Huracan.

“For us, it was an important victory after the draw with Sampdoria,” he told Sky, referring to last week’s 1-1 draw with the Blucerchiati.

More at Goal.com

Catania coach Sinisa Mihajlovic in survival pledge

New Catania coach Sinisa Mihajlovic believes he can help push the team out of the relegation zone and keep them safe come the end of term.

Mihajlovic took over from the sacked Giuseppe Atzori and he has pledged to turn fortunes around in Sicily. He believes his side have the right strength and mentality to be able to fight their way out of trouble.

“I am very motivated and feel big resposibility. This will help me. Sometimes the motivation of a coach helps the cause. The more responsibilty I am given then the more I will deliver,” Mihajlovic told the press.

More at Goal.com

Palermo – Cagliari 2-1

Palermo had to come from behind yesterday when Cagliari created a beautiful skip pass bouncing over the goalkeeper’s head (Sirigu)…..Budan scored on a scorcher at 55 min. And then Dutch defender Kjaer nailed one at 65 min.  The Rosanero looked sharp for most of the game maintaining an unbeaten record at home…this on the heels of Cagliari swamping Juve last week 2-0.  Cagliari is solid and fun to watch. They do miss Aquafresca. Palermo defended well late to wrap a 2-1 win…on a side note, Cavani played well after the incident this week and the rumors he is leaving..he skimmed the bar with a hot shot from about 15 yards…after the match, new coach Delio Rossi was happy with his first win in league play and he denied reports of Cavani’s departure.

I knew that Zenga would have not lasted long

Palermo have wasted no time in appointing Walter Zenga’s successor as they bring in Delio Rossi on a two-year deal with the option to sign on further depending on results.

The club confirmed Zenga had been sacked on Tuesday morning, Rossi is now the new coach and a statement on the club’s official website Ilpalermocalcio.it reads:

“U.S. Citta di Palermo communicates that Delio Rossi has been appointed as coach until June 30 2011 with the option to stay on for a further year.”

Sporting director Walter Sabatini added: “He will be with us until 2011 june with the option for a further year. He will bring in people he has worked with in the past,” the Italian told Sky Sport Italia just moments after the official announcement.

“Rossi and Zenga? They are two different individuals. Zenga did an excellent job at Palermo but it didn’t produce results. There was no consistency in the play or results.

“Rossi will need time to transform and improve the squad’s identity.”

Palermo had thrown journalists off the exact dates regarding Rossi’s appointment. The club’s website indcated it was until June 2010, but they appear to have made an error as confirmed by Sabatini who set the record straight.

“Our website? We have made a mistake. It’s 2011 not 2010,” concluded the director.

Salvatore Landolina, Goal.com

Walter Zenga might be sacked soon

According to Goal.com, Walter Zenga might have his days counted with Palermo.

According to a report in today’s edition of the Corriere dello Sport, the honeymoon between Palermo President Maurizio Zamparini and coach Walter Zenga is already over.

And the fiery patron is allegedly poised to swing the axe on the former goalkeeper if the Rosanero fail to put bitter Sicilian rivals Catania to the sword when they meet at the Stadio Barbera after the international hiatus.

Zamparini is well-known for his trigger-happy ways in the peninsula and has ushered in 29 different tacticians between Venezia, the club he owned until 2002, and Palermo.

And it is suggested that the entrepreneur has already approached Delio Rossi to enquire after his availability to relocate to Sicily.

More at Goal.com

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