Zampa: Goodbye Guidolin! Saturday 7 April, 2007
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Palermo President Maurizio Zamparini will not forgive the 3-1 defeat to Cagliari. “This is Francesco Guidolin’s last day on the bench.”
The fiery chief made no secret of his displeasure at the recent turn of events, as his team had been leading Serie A until the halfway stage before crumbling with just 10 points from the last 12 rounds.
Now they are hanging on to fourth place by a thread with Empoli, Milan and Fiorentina in the hunt for that lucrative Champions League spot.
“This is Guidolin’s last day on the Palermo bench,” Zamparini told Stadionews. “I will take two days to reflect on the situation before making my decision official.
“The only person I can fire for this disaster is the Coach and perhaps we have already waited too long. We’ve had a worse second half of the season than Ascoli, who are bottom of the table. We had a 12 point advantage over fifth place and frittered it all away.”
It’s believed the only reason he hasn’t sacked the Coach immediately is tied in with the difficulties in finding a quick replacement.
“I am thinking of finding an inside solution, because Guidolin seems very stressed, as he showed against Fiorentina. In my view he is transmitting that negativity to the squad. He ruined my Christmas and now he has also wrecked my Easter.”
The tactician himself tried to shake off all this very public speculation from the Palermo patron.
“Am I close to being fired? I’m not the person to ask, you should see what the President has to say,” commented Guidolin in his Press conference.
“I have always acted professionally. Today we tried to win the match, but it did not go well. Undoubtedly that penalty incident had a huge influence, but the team did not embarrass itself and fought until the end.
“This side deserves a great deal of respect. We can still challenge for an ambitious goal this season. I feel relaxed, as I know we have had a wonderful campaign. The last three months cannot cancel out the previous year.”
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Guidolin keeps Palermo job
Monday 9 April, 2007
Francesco Guidolin will remain at the helm of Palermo after chief Maurizio Zamparini made a surprising U-turn on Monday.
The fiery President (pictured) was furious after Saturday’s 3-1 home defeat to Cagliari and stated that it was Guidolin’s last day on the bench.
Zamparini, however, spoke with sporting director Rino Foschi on Monday and declared that the Coach will end the season with the Sicilian club – no matter what happens.
“The previous statements were due to the fact that I was mad, but Guidolin will stay,” confirmed the outspoken patron.
“He will end the season with us. I think this is the right thing to do, no matter what the results are like. The technical staff will not change and we will try to understand what the problem is.
“On Wednesday Palermo will go on ‘ritiro’ to the Garda Lake. I will join the team and discuss the next moves with the Coach.”
Foschi also confirmed the club’s renewed trust in the former Udinese boss and believes the team can do well before the end of the campaign.
“There are no problems at all, I spoke to Guidolin at lunchtime after discussions with Zamparini, who is on vacation. This isn’t an easy moment, but there will be no changes,” said the official.
“The next seven matches before the end of the season will be very difficult, starting with the game against Inter on Sunday.
“Our championship is not over, we must try to reach our objectives. At the end, as at every club, there will be time to evaluate the situation and assess the season’s results,” concluded Foschi.
Palermo have earned just 10 points from the last 12 rounds and their fourth place in the table is under threat from Milan, Empoli and Fiorentina
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Palermo are lacking a striker right now, that's their main problem. Guidolin might be spreading negative energy, but Zamparini isn't making things better.
