Parma coach Pecchia claims Inzaghi owes him ahead of the game against Inter

Parma coach Fabio Pecchia jokingly recalled a hard-fought previous meeting with Simone Inzaghi and claimed the Inter coach “owes him one” as the pair will cross paths again at the San Siro.

The Nerazzurri host the newcomers on Friday and the Gialloblu can take inspiration from a notable recent tradition as they are unbeaten in away games at Inter since 2013, despite their coach insisting that statistics “don’t win games”.

The two sides last met in the Coppa Italia round of 16 in January 2023, when Inzaghi’s side emerged 2-1 after extra time in a game in which Lautaro Martinez equalized just minutes before the final whistle, ending Inter’s hopes of qualifying Pecchia’s outfit rekindled a fierce opponent.

Pecchia: Inzaghi ‘owes me’ but deserves ‘compliments’ for his work at Inter

“There is little to say about the value of his work; He deserves compliments,” Pecchia said at a pre-match press conference on Friday, as reported by Fc Inter 1908.

“When we were accepting the award (at the Gran Gala del Calcio), our paths crossed and I reminded him of the Coppa Italia game and told him that he still owes me one.

But that’s a thing of the past now, it was a lesson. The players have changed and we will approach the game with even more young players in a wonderful environment.

“Statistics don’t win games, they have no value and they don’t give you courage,” Pecchia continued.

“We have to approach the game with courage, with fire in our eyes but with the mindset that we are playing a football game.”

Inter are four points behind leaders Napoli after play at Fiorentina was suspended due to Edoardo Bove’s collapse and have won just two of their last five games at the San Siro, losing at least one goal in four of them.

Parma have taken two of their three Serie A wins of the season in their last three games, beating Lazio 3-1 last Sunday.