Gilardino Parma Conceded Far Too Easily but Must Keep Positive Attitude After Lazio Defeat

FolioPitch.com – 25 October 2026 | Alberto Gilardino has acknowledged that his Parma side conceded far too easily in their 3-0 Serie A defeat to Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico on Friday, but the coach insists the team must maintain a positive attitude as they battle to turn their season around. The result marked a third consecutive league loss for the Ducali, following reverses against Inter and Torino, and left Gilardino still searching for his first points since taking over from Carlos Cuesta. Despite the scoreline, the former Italy striker found reasons for encouragement in the first-half performance, though he was left frustrated by the manner in which his team surrendered after the interval.

Speaking to Sky Sport Italia after the match, Gilardino was candid in his assessment: “I will have to watch it again, but I feel we made a step forward in the first half compared to the performance against Torino. We created more dangerous situations to take the lead, but after the restart we conceded the goals far too easily. These are naïve errors and we cannot keep doing this, so it is a process of maturity we’ve got to push forward quicker now.” The coach’s comments underlined a recurring theme of his short tenure, with defensive lapses undermining promising attacking spells. Indeed, Gilardino Parma conceded far too easily but must keep positive attitude was the clear message emanating from the Italian capital, as the manager sought to balance criticism with encouragement.

Parma’s first-half display offered genuine promise. The visitors carved out several big scoring opportunities on the counter-attack, only to be denied by a series of impressive saves from Lazio goalkeeper Christos Mandas. However, the momentum shifted decisively after the break. Diego Carlos, signed for his experience, was at fault for both goals, first redirecting a Reda Belahyane pass into the path of Kenneth Taylor for the opener, before putting a Nuno Tavares cross into his own net. “I expect a lot from the more experienced players, both in terms of communication and attitude,” Gilardino said. “It’s true that Diego Carlos and Sierro were below par today, but I have faith in them, they can and must transmit a clear identity for the future of Parma. We need leadership in this squad, which is overall very young, so we must all try to maintain a positive approach. I know it’s not easy, but we need that spark to turn in the right direction.”

The defeat leaves Parma with just one victory in Serie A this season – a 2-1 win over Genoa on September 20 – along with one draw and six defeats. Their attacking output is a particular concern, with only five goals scored in eight rounds. Yet there was a late consolation of sorts as Simone Lontani’s cross bounced in off the inside of the far post in added time, handing Gilardino’s side their first goal since he took charge. “Simone has incredible margin for improvement, especially when attacking the space and going one on one,” the coach noted. “We moved to 4-2-4 in the final stages today and he can be decisive in those positions, but also do damage between the lines. He is very young and we believe he has a bright future.”

Gilardino also explained his midfield selection, revealing that Vincent Sierro was preferred to the returning Bernabé, who was coming off an injury and needed to be rested with another game looming on Wednesday. “He has the quality to play in any of the midfield positions,” Gilardino said of Sierro, while acknowledging the Swiss international’s below-par display. The coach’s willingness to rotate reflects the congested fixture list and the need to manage a squad that is both young and lacking in confidence. With a crucial home match just four days away, Gilardino is urging his players to embrace the challenge rather than fear it. “Fear must not be part of our vocabulary,” he declared. “We are in a difficult situation, we have to face them with responsibility. There is an opportunity in four days to play an important match on home turf, it’s not decisive yet, but I am sure we’ll do better.”

The upcoming fixture represents a significant opportunity for Parma to halt their slide and ease the growing pressure on their new coach. Gilardino’s message is clear: the team must learn from their mistakes, particularly the defensive errors that have proved costly, while retaining the positive approach that he believes will eventually yield results. The challenge for Parma is to translate the promise of their first-half showing against Lazio into a complete performance, one that combines attacking verve with defensive solidity. As Gilardino knows all too well, Gilardino Parma conceded far too easily but must keep positive attitude if they are to climb away from trouble. The coming weeks will be a test of character for a squad still finding its identity under a new manager, and the response against their next opponent will reveal much about their resilience.

In conclusion, Parma’s defeat to Lazio encapsulated the difficulties of Gilardino’s early reign: flashes of attacking quality undermined by defensive naivety and a lack of leadership. The coach’s insistence on maintaining a positive attitude is understandable, but it must be backed by tangible improvements on the pitch. With a home game on the horizon, Gilardino will hope that his players can turn words into action and begin the long climb up the Serie A table. For now, the focus remains on learning from errors and fostering a mentality that refuses to accept defeat. As the coach reiterated, Gilardino Parma conceded far too easily but must keep positive attitude – a mantra that will need to resonate throughout the squad if the Ducali are to rediscover their winning touch.