Ignazio Abate has made Torino's trip to Parma about more than the result. Before Parma vs Torino, he said the team still need to tighten up without the ball, while Cesare Casadei also drew a pointed message about his mentality and place in the squad.
"We care about not conceding goals, and from that point of view too we have plenty of room for improvement," Abate told TuttoMercatoWeb, in comments translated from Italian. That is backed up by Torino's numbers. They have only five clean sheets in the calendar year, and Abate's spell has brought one in eight matches.
Torino's defensive standards
The last clean sheet came on 19 April in a 0-0 draw at Cremona. Abate also said Torino have managed it only four other times across the whole calendar year, which matches the total of five clean sheets overall.
Parma do not look like a team overflowing with goals either. They have scored four league goals after six matches, so Torino should still see an opening to control the game if the back line is disciplined enough. The problem is that the coach is asking for a higher baseline, and he is doing it before a fixture that should feel manageable on paper.
Casadei's minutes and Abate's warning
Casadei has played just 160 total minutes so far, partly because of a muscle problem. Abate did not stop at the injury explanation. "He has to be less boyish and more adult, he has to make that mental switch," he said, a clear warning that selection will not come on talent alone.
He also added that, in a 4-4-2, Casadei can play on the wing and can do that with the national team too, with freedom and physical and mental growth part of the picture. The message is straightforward enough, Casadei needs to react, and Torino need a better defensive display when they visit Parma on Monday.
Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →
