Cremonese coach Marco Giampaolo praised Jamie Vardy as 'the prototype of the ideal striker' after a crucial 3-0 victory over Pisa. The win helped Cremonese maintain their hopes of avoiding relegation.
Key points
Giampaolo praises Vardy as an ideal striker
Cremonese wins 3-0 against Pisa
Victory aids relegation survival hopes
CremonesePisaLecceJuventus
Cremonese coach Giampaolo: âVardy the prototype of an ideal strikerâ
Cremonese coach Giampaolo: âVardy the prototype of an ideal strikerâ
Cremonese coach Marco Giampaolo calls Jamie Vardy âthe prototype of the ideal striker, he reminds me of Fabio Quagliarellaâ after the England international kept safety hopes alive.
The Grigiorossi knew that Lecce had lost 1-0 to Juventus last night, so this was a huge opportunity to close up the gap and stave off relegation going into the final two rounds.
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CREMONA, ITALY â MAY 10: Coach Marco Giampaolo of US Cremonese rects during the Serie A match between US Cremonese and Pisa SC at Stadio Giovanni Zini on May 10, 2026 in Cremona, Italy. (Photo by Marco M. Mantovani/Getty Images)
âIt was also crucial to show the right attitude, all it takes sometimes at the start is to see the posture of your players to know if theyâre ready to win or not.
âI wanted the team to keep this small flame of hope alive, and that is what we have done.â
CREMONA, ITALY â MAY 10: Jamie Vardy of US Cremonese in action during the Serie A match between US Cremonese and Pisa SC at Stadio Giovanni Zini on May 10, 2026 in Cremona, Italy. (Photo by Marco M. Mantovani/Getty Images)
Vardy had not started a match in almost two months and had not found the net since January, but he made an immediate mark this afternoon by opening the scoring.
âVardy isnât a player. He is The Player,â said Giampaolo.
âHe does something different to the normal players. I have been fortunate to work with a few of them with these characteristics, those who shoulder the responsibility, are always switched on.
âOf those I had in the past, I think the one he most reminds me of is Fabio Quagliarella. Vardy might be 38 years old, but the way he approaches the game, the way he hits the ball, itâs exceptional.
âHe is like the prototype of the ideal striker. I only really had him for the first game since I took over, then he got injured, so his presence and therefore his absence are very important.â
CREMONA, ITALY â MAY 10: Jamie Vardy of US Cremonese celebrates after scoring the 1-0 goal during the Serie A match between US Cremonese and Pisa SC at Stadio Giovanni Zini on May 10, 2026 in Cremona, Italy. (Photo by Marco M. Mantovani/Getty Images)
Now Cremonese have closed the gap from Lecce to just one point, while Cagliari are not mathematically safe either, but they remain in the bottom three.
âWeâve got to hang in there and fight it out to the last minute. I didnât say much to the players in the dressing room, because sometimes you donât need many words. Weâve got to win, thatâs all there is to it,â concluded the coach.
