Roberto D’Aversa is back on Parma’s bench as he agreed to return at the helm following the firing of Fabio Liverani, the club announced on Thursday. He was relieved from his duties in August, while the ownership change was being finalized, after the appointing of new sporting director Marcello Carli, however he remained under contract.
Liverani was quickly hired late in the summer after an encouraging season at Lecce despite the relegation, as his side played an interesting brand of football. However, his ideas did not break through at his new team and the results have been disappointing. The Ducali currently sit in 18th position, on a par with Torino and above only Genoa and Crotone. They have unraveled recently as they have suffered four consecutive losses against Juventus, Crotone, Torino and Atalanta, conceding a total of 12 goals and scoring just once in such stretch.
D’Aversa guided Parma in their rise from Lega Pro to Serie A in the span of three years, as he took over in December of 2016. He finished 14th in his first season in the top division and 11th in the most recent campaign, but the new management decided to move on from him, citing lack of cohesion and of unity of intent in the official statement.
Our view
It is an inevitable move for the Gialloblù as they have looked dismal in recent matches and Liverani never managed to complete the transition to a more proactive style, nor the roster is really suitable for it. Given his familiarity with the players and his previous success, D’Aversa should be able to improve the situation in a hurry.