Marco Giampaolo acknowledges that Jamie Vardy is “a player of a superior level,” especially after his crucial goal against Udinese. However, the manager emphasizes that Cremonese’s Serie A survival is now dependent on other results, placing their fate outside of their direct control.
For a brief period on matchday, Cremonese momentarily climbed out of the relegation zone, with hopes of securing their league status. They achieved a 1-0 victory against Udinese, and simultaneously, Lecce were trailing 2-2 against Sassuolo. This scenario would have temporarily placed Cremonese in safety.
However, the situation dramatically shifted when Nikola Stulic scored a 96th-minute winner for Lecce, reversing the standings and pushing Cremonese back into peril.
Giampaolo Urges Focus on Cremonese’s Game
Despite the fluctuating fortunes, Giampaolo stressed the importance of his team’s mindset. “Cremonese just needed to focus on our own game, without thinking about what Lecce were doing,” he stated. “My team did their duty; it was a very hard-fought win, so the lads must be proud of their performance and the result. There is another match to be played, again without thinking about the fact that Lecce won at the last minute.”
This means Lecce retains a one-point advantage heading into the final round of the season, with everything to be decided on the last day.
The recent upturn in Cremonese’s results, including two consecutive victories against Pisa and Udinese, has coincided with the return of Jamie Vardy from injury. The former Leicester City star has scored in both of these matches, rekindling their hopes of survival.
“Vardy is a great player; he relishes the match situation and wants to be a protagonist,” Giampaolo commented on his star striker. “When he accelerates, he’s pushing so hard that he leaves welts in the turf. You realize when you are dealing with a player of a superior level.”
Cremonese now understand that their destiny is not entirely in their own hands. Even if they secure a win against Como in the final fixture, it might not be sufficient to avoid relegation, especially given Como’s own strong performances and potential push for a Champions League spot.
“Unfortunately, that is the situation; Lecce have a big advantage in that sense. I have been very clear with my players: we must focus only on our own journey,” Giampaolo explained. “We will play one of the best teams in the league, and if we finish in the bottom three, it will be because the other sides deserved to be ahead of us. We’ve got to play to the best of our abilities and then see where we are,” concluded the Cremonese coach.
A scenario where Cremonese draws with Como and Lecce loses at home to Genoa would leave both teams level on 35 points, potentially leading to a relegation play-out.
