Despite victory over Napoli, Palermo boss Davide Ballardini admits he doesn't expect any praise from president Maurizio Zamparini.

"The team knows how to suffer and help itself out," Ballardini told journalists. "We knew we wouldn't play well against Napoli because not having Fabio Liverani made the game difficult.

"It was a great test for our defence. Napoli gave us no illusions. They went about their business as usual. It wasn't easy."

As Palermo broke into the European places, Ballardini revealed that Zamparini is still on his case and criticises him on a daily basis.

"We don't have the same furore and aggressiveness away from home that we have in Palermo," Ballardini explained. "We have to improve in this respect.

"The President criticises me daily, thankfully not publicly, and it does good. Even this evening I await the usual phone call of reproaches."