Marco Giampaolo has acknowledged that Jamie Vardy is “a player of a superior level” following his goal that secured a victory against Udinese. However, he also recognizes that Cremonese’s Serie A fate is no longer entirely in their own hands.
For a brief period on the evening, Cremonese had climbed out of the relegation zone and seemed to be on a path towards safety. They had secured a 1-0 win away at Udinese, coinciding with Lecce conceding a late equalizer to draw 2-2 against Sassuolo.
However, the situation was reversed when Nikola Stulic scored a 96th-minute winner for Lecce, shifting the dynamics of the relegation battle.
Giampaolo Stresses Focus for Cremonese
“Cremonese simply needed to concentrate on our own performance, without paying attention to what Lecce was doing,” Giampaolo stated to DAZN Italia. “My team fulfilled its task; it was a hard-fought victory, so the players should be proud of their performance and the result. There is another match to be played, and we must continue to focus on our own game, not on Lecce’s late win.”
This outcome means Lecce maintains their one-point lead heading into the final matchday, with everything to be decided in the last round.
It is noteworthy that Cremonese experienced their most challenging period in recent weeks during Vardy’s absence. Since returning from injury, the former Leicester City star has scored in two consecutive games. These back-to-back victories against Pisa and Udinese have kept their survival hopes alive.
“Vardy is an exceptional player; he thrives in match situations and desires to be a key figure,” Giampaolo commented. “When he accelerates, he pushes with such intensity that you can almost see the impact on the turf. You recognize that you are dealing with a player of a superior caliber.”
Cremonese understands that their destiny is not entirely in their own control. Even if they defeat Como in the final round, it might not be sufficient to avoid relegation. This is particularly challenging given that Como is still contending for a potential Champions League spot.
“Unfortunately, that is the current situation; Lecce holds a significant advantage in that regard. I have been very clear with my players: we must exclusively focus on our own path. We will face one of the league’s strongest teams, and if we end up in the bottom three, it will be because the other teams rightfully finished ahead of us. We must play to the best of our abilities and then see where we stand,” the Cremonese coach concluded.
Should Cremonese draw with Como and Lecce lose at home to Genoa, both teams would end up with 35 points, leading to a relegation play-out.