Parma chairman Tommaso Ghirardi on Tuesday explained why he sacked coach Hector Cuper ahead of its must-win last match against Serie A leaders Inter on Sunday.
Ghirardi said he took the decision to remove a possible connection in player's minds to Inter's famous last-day debacle in 2002 when Cuper was coach of the Milan club.
''I did it to take the players' minds off that, to remove a possible alibi,'' Ghirardi told ANSA.
Ghirardi said he was ''shocked'' by some pundits' suggestions that the sacking - and replacement with inexperienced youth team coach Andrea Manzo - might destabilise Parma and work in Inter's favour.
''I'd like to know if these people realise what relegation means,'' he said.
Inter travel to Parma a point ahead of Roma, who visit Catania.
British bookies have Inter as 3/1 favourites despite their jittery 2-2 draw at home to Siena last week.
Roma - whose fans were banned Tuesday from travelling to the Sicilian city because of fears of trouble - are a 9/4 chance.
Roma icon Francesco Totti said Tuesday that Inter would get the title but Roma had played the better football all season.
