Carlos Cuesta
Carlos Cuesta at Parma: a brief summary
This is an analysis of Carlos Cuesta’s work as a young manager at Parma. It follows three stages: the season before he arrived, his first full season, and the start of the next one. It looks at six parts of the game, in open play only, with no set pieces.
When Cuesta arrived, Parma was a direct, vertical team that defended in a hurry. His first step was to make it compact. The team learned to hold its shape, win the ball back sooner and give opponents fewer clear chances. Results followed.
In his second stage, the team stopped relying on long, direct play. It began to build from the back, draw opponents in and then go behind them, with dribblers and wide players ready to carry the ball forward. The crosses became more accurate and the shots came from closer.
The start of 2026-27 is a short chapter; however, the team’s identity is clear.
