Giampaolo Praises Vardy After Cremonese Win, Relegation Fate Out of Their Hands

Cremonese manager Marco Giampaolo expressed his admiration for Jamie Vardy, labelling him a "player of a superior level," following the veteran striker's decisive goal in a 1-0 away victory against Udinese. However, despite the win, Cremonese's Serie A future remains precarious, with their survival now out of their direct control after Lecce secured a late victory in their own fixture.

The Grigiorossi briefly climbed out of the relegation zone during the match against Udinese, buoyed by Vardy's goal and news of Lecce conceding an equalizer against Sassuolo. This momentary relief was short-lived, as Nikola Stulic's 96th-minute winner for Lecce reversed their fortunes, maintaining Lecce's one-point advantage heading into the final matchday of the season.

Giampaolo's Assessment

Speaking to DAZN Italia, Giampaolo emphasized that his team's focus was solely on their performance, irrespective of Lecce's results. "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 performance and result. There is another match to be played, again without thinking about the fact Lecce won at the last minute."

He acknowledged the difficulty of the victory, praising his squad's effort and the determination shown on the pitch. This win, coupled with a previous victory over Pisa, highlights a recent resurgence in form for Cremonese, coinciding with Vardy's return from injury.

Vardy's Impact

Jamie Vardy's influence has been undeniable since his return to the squad. The former Leicester City star has found the back of the net twice in as many games, directly contributing to the back-to-back victories that have kept Cremonese's hopes alive. Giampaolo did not hold back in his praise for the English forward.

"Vardy is a great player, he relishes the match situation and wants to be a protagonist," Giampaolo noted. "When he accelerates, he’s pushing so hard that he leaves welts in the turf. You realise when you are dealing with a player of a superior level." This sentiment underscores the critical role Vardy plays in the team's offensive strategy and their fight for survival.

Key facts

The Relegation Equation

Cremonese's final match of the season sees them face Como, a team still vying for a potential Champions League spot, making the fixture exceptionally challenging. Even a victory for Cremonese might not be enough to avoid relegation, depending on Lecce's result. Lecce holds a one-point lead and will play Genoa at home in their last game.

Giampaolo remains realistic about the situation. "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," he 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."

Potential Play-out Scenario

There is a slim possibility of a relegation play-out. If Cremonese manage a draw against Como and Lecce suffer a home defeat to Genoa, both teams would finish on 35 points. This would trigger a tie-breaker scenario, potentially leading to a play-out match to determine which team retains their Serie A status for the next season. The upcoming final matchday promises to be a tense affair for both clubs and their supporters.

Fuente: Football Italia RSS https://football-italia.net/giampaolo-cremonese-can-only-do-our-best-vardy/