Manuel Scavone: “We can make history”

Manuel Scavone, tell us what's going on in football-crazy Parma these days?

Manuel Scavone: There is a total state of emergency here in the city. The fans are electrified, carried away by a general euphoria. Until recently, no one had thought about being able to play for direct promotion. But we have also experienced completely different times this season, with fan protests and a lot of criticism that has come at us from outside, so we players know how to assess this correctly and keep our feet on the ground.

With three matchdays to go, Parma is in second place in the table…

Exactly. However, the pursuers are breathing down our necks and a lot can still happen. If we end up third, we would have to go to the playoffs, where everything would start from scratch. Theoretically, we could even slip to seventh place.

With the youngest Victory against Ternana You celebrated your comeback after an injury break - and even as captain. Are you now one of the leading wolves in the team?

Since Alessandro Lucarelli, the regular captain, is currently unavailable, I can wear the armband. However, I was a bit surprised because I was completely away from the window for a month. The fact that the coach brings me in right from the start and sets me up as captain shows the trust he has in me. To get back to your question: I automatically grew into this leadership role. During my two years here at Parma, the club replaced almost all of its players, with only Lucarelli and Emanuele Calaiò remaining from my early days.

“Always backed the right horse” Parma will play in Cesena on Sunday, after which the big promotion party could take place at home against their former club Bari. Are you already thinking about this game?

Of course I have the game date in mind. I have a lot of fond memories of Bari, so this is always a special game. In this case, however, that is in the background. It's the day on which a really big dream could come true. I want to make history with Parma and be the first club to move from Serie D to Serie A.

Parma have recently been promoted three times in a row, but for you it would be the fifth league step up in your career. Few other professional footballers in Italy have achieved this in recent years.

Yes, that's really strange. I just always backed the right horse. (laughs)

Are you saying this is all a coincidence?

Of course it takes a fair amount of luck. But when choosing a club, I always made sure that there was a serious, ambitious project behind it; that was important to me. Otherwise I wouldn't have moved to Parma in Serie C. The long-term goal of Series A was clearly mentioned back then - and now we are close to it. It is my dream to play in the first division with this club.

“I have something to give back to FC Südtirol” Can you even imagine changing employers again?

Not really at the moment, because my family and I feel very comfortable in Parma. We don't lack anything here. However, I have always said that I would like to play for FC Südtirol again and give something back to this club. Let's see, hopefully I have a few more years left.

Interview: Alexander Foppa

Serie B Italy	SP	TV	P
1. Parma	34	59:32	70
2. As	34	54:37	67
3. Venice	34	62:39	64
4. Cremonese	34	43:28	60
5. Catanzaro	34	53:42	56
6. Palermo	34	58:48	52
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Manuel Scavone: “We can make history”

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