Ahead of welcoming them to Bologna this weekend, Stefano Pioli has reflected on his brief stint in charge of Palermo last summer.
The Parma-born tactician spent two months of last summer with the Rosanero, but was sacked by Maurizio Zamparini two weeks before the League season had even begun.
Ahead of welcoming them to Bologna this weekend, Stefano Pioli has reflected on his brief stint in charge of Palermo last summer.
The Parma-born tactician spent two months of last summer with the Rosanero, but was sacked by Maurizio Zamparini two weeks before the League season had even begun.
Pioli has since bounced back with Emilia-Romagna side Bologna and goes into Week 30’s encounter with Zamparini’s Sicilians level on points in mid-table.
“I accepted with enthusiasm and conviction the offer from Zamparini, it was a step forward for me and my staff,” Pioli told Mediagol.it on Thursday.
“Palermo was an important place that opened the doors to Europe. Zamparini really wanted me too and was convinced he had found the right Coach.
“Then, some things could not be completed and that was it, as often happens it became a closed door. A door now open is the one at Bologna.”
Pioli was prompted to suggest what had gone wrong between himself and Zamparini.
“What didn’t go well in my experience with Palermo? I’ve not changed my opinion – 50 days is too short to evaluate a job and make judgements.
“The time at my disposal was too short. In retrospect I analysed all the situations during this period and the belief is that I needed more time.
“Palermo was changing too much, the preliminary Europa League match with Thun arrived too soon and at a time that was not ideal and [being eliminated to them] certainly created difficulties.”
The 46-year-old intimated that there were no hard feelings between himself and the fiery President.
“It was clear that the time needed for change was a bit longer than Zamparini had imagined.
“My relationship with him was short but very direct, we always confronted and spoke to each other eye to eye, then he wanted to make the change and it was his right to do so.
“The President has proven to be a great entrepreneur and connoisseur of football, we all hoped it would have gone differently, but unfortunately that was not so, never mind.
“Now everything is over, I only think about the present and the challenge on Sunday.”