Cremonese manager Marco Giampaolo has announced that Jamie Vardy will be in the starting lineup for Saturday’s critical home match against Pisa. Giampaolo described this game as the club’s final opportunity to keep their Serie A survival hopes alive, with only three matches remaining in the season.
In his pre-match press conference, as reported by CalcioMercato, Giampaolo was unequivocal about the stakes involved. “There is no other way, we have to win,” he stated. “These matches are worth more than three points in the table. That something extra is character, self-respect, resilience, ferocity, the ability to fight back against the odds. I told the squad they are aware there is only one option.”
Giampaolo Calls for Character as Cremonese Face Relegation Crunch
The Cremonese head coach was equally direct when discussing the squad’s mentality following their defeat to Lazio. He urged his players to dig deep, irrespective of the opposition’s situation. Pisa arrives at the Stadio Giovanni Zini already relegated, but Giampaolo was quick to dismiss any notion that this would make the match easier.
“Nobody gives anything to anyone,” he asserted. “Pisa will play their game, as they should. We need to find something deeper, the feelings we have, even within the team relationship. I have nothing to reproach from the defeat against Lazio. I am not criticizing the squad; I am calling on them for this crucial moment.”
Addressing the broader question of motivation, a concern voiced by frustrated supporters, Giampaolo pushed back firmly.
“An unmotivated player is one who gives nothing emotionally, for whom winning or losing doesn’t matter,” he explained. “I do not believe we have players like that here. Tomorrow is a test, and we are called to respond with our attitudes and our ability to be resilient. The significance of this match goes beyond just three points.”
Giampaolo also acknowledged the pressure of the occasion while maintaining a measured approach.
He confirmed that Collocolo and Thorsby are available and part of the squad. He downplayed the importance of tactical formations, noting that his team has demonstrated considerable flexibility in recent weeks, switching between a back three in defense and various attacking structures.
“The formation is a minor aspect of a match that contains countless other elements,” he said. “You can win or lose with a 5-3-2. The module itself is worth nothing.”