Cristian Chivu’s Parma has strengthened one of the characteristics for which the coach became great as a player: defense and the defensive phase. Cristian, an outfielder of European caliber, has balanced the entire defensive department making it more solid and determined thanks to the daily work of all his staff, but also and above all of the Gialloblu defenders projected to improve day by day to hit the final goal. The numbers do not tell everything, but they are able to give a clear key to the direction taken by the team: 5 points in the last 4 matches with an average of 1.25 per game and just 4 goals conceded. A turnaround, that of the entire defensive department, which has in all the defenders the key players, with key figures such as Captain Enrico Delprato, passing through Emanuele Valeri and arriving up to Botond Balogh.
The match against Juventus on Oct. 30, 2024 was a true test for Parma and its captain. Enrico Delprato netted a historic goal, scoring in the 3′ mark the second fastest goal ever for Parma against Juventus in Serie A. Only Enrico Chiesa, back in 1997, had done better with a goal in the 2′. The defender, born in 1999, with the goal at Juventus became the second defender in Parma’s history to score against the Bianconeri in the league, after Cristian Molinaro in 2014. With 4 goals scored this season, Delprato established himself as one of the Gialloblu’s most prolific defenders, surpassed only by Cristian Zaccardo and Néstor Sensini, who scored 5 in their respective seasons.
Not only goals, but also assists: Emanuele Valeri pivot of the Gialloblu defense has served 4 winning passes this season, putting him among the best Italian defenders in Parma’s recent history. The last Italian players to provide more assists than him in a single season were Marco Parolo, Mattia Cassani and Antonio Cassano, all in 2013/14. His ability to contribute to the offensive maneuver is an added value that shows Parma is building a defense that can also push forward.
Summoned by Hungary coach Marco Rossi for his national team’s double engagement against Turkey, Botond Balogh is the wall that repels every opposing assault in the Gialloblu area. With an impressive 122 defensive rejections, including 58 headers, Balogh earned 7th place in the special ranking of the most effective defenders in Serie A, led by Empoli’s Ardian Ismajli. His presence in the box is crucial to maintaining the team’s defensive solidity.
Parma is building a team capable of solid defense, and the growth of individuals such as Delprato, Valeri and Balogh is just one of the reasons to confirm that all players are working to strengthen the defensive phase day by day. Looking forward to the last nine “finals” that await the yellow-blue
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