Donadoni: We are aiming high at Parma

New Parma coach Roberto Donadoni is confident he can guide the club to a respectable finish in Serie A. Donadoni, 48, has replaced Franco Colomba, who left the club last night after a string of poor results. The former Italy coach, who has signed a contract until June 2013, said today: "This is not just a team whose ambition is just to avoid the drop. I am here because this club has to aim high and I think we have the ingredients to do so. I can't wait to meet the players and get to work." Last weekend's 5-0 defeat at Inter Milan dropped Parma to 15th in the standings, seven points clear of the relegation zone. The Ducale club have mustered just one win in their last eight league games, a 2-0 triumph over Udinese on 20 November. Donadoni, nevertheless, paid tribute to his predecessor, who guided Parma to a 12th-place finish last season. "We have to give credit to Colomba," Donadoni said. "He has done a good job during his time here and I admire him." Donadoni, who was dismissed in pre-season by Cagliari, added: "It's not in my plans nor in the club's plans to look to the past. In my career I've always had this positive and ambitious approach and I want to achieve something important here." The former AC Milan star has not had much success since not being retained as Italy coach after UEFA EURO 2008. Since then, he has had unsuccessful spells with Napoli and Cagliari. Donadoni's first game in charge will be at home to Siena on Sunday.