Parma vs Hellas Verona preview - Mandorlini hails Toni
Posted Saturday, May 23, 2015 by PA
Hellas Verona coach Andrea Mandorlini is singing the praises of veteran striker Luca Toni ahead of Sunday's penultimate match at Parma.
Toni is in the running to finish as Serie A's leading goalscorer, having struck 19 times so far to trail Juventus striker Carlos Tevez by just one goal.
Toni, 37, is Hellas' all-time leading scorer with 39 goals.
"As a coach, it's great to have a player like Toni," Mandorlini said to the Italian press. "It's an honour.
"He is a great player and continues to make history at Hellas.
"We are very fortunate to have a player like him and we hope we can help him finish as the top scorer in Serie A.
"Everyone in the team looks up to him and would like to help him achieve that feat because he has given us so much."
Toni's goals also proved pivotal in helping Hellas finish 10th in the standings in the 2013-14 campaign.
Hellas are also hoping to end the campaign in the top half of the standings and last weekend's 2-1 triumph over Empoli lifted them to 12th place, two points adrift of Palermo who are in mid-table.
Sunday's match will be Parma last Serie A game at the Ennio Tardini stadium.
The Ducale club who are at the foot of the standings faces an uncertain future.
No buyer has come forward to acquire Parma, that was declared bankrupt earlier this year.
Parma were relegated to the second tier last month, winning just six and losing 24 of their 36 games.
The Gialloblu will not be allowed to register for Serie B next season unless a 74million euros sporting debt is cleared.
"I just hope we can finish the season well and that Parma will have a future in Serie B," Parma coach Roberto Donadoni said.
Parma fell 3-0 at Fiorentina in the previous round and have clinched just one point in their last four league games.
The visitors will be bolstered by the return of midfield pair Bosko Jankovic and Panagiotis Tachtsidis from suspension.
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