Cremonese boss Marco Giampaolo has confirmed that veteran striker Jamie Vardy will lead the line in Saturday's crucial Serie A clash against Pisa at the Stadio Giovanni Zini. With just three games remaining in the season, Giampaolo didn't mince words, calling the match a "last chance" to keep the club's top-flight survival hopes alive.
"There is no other way, we have to win," Giampaolo declared in his pre-match press conference, as reported by CalcioMercato. "These matches are worth more than three points. They're about character, self-respect, resilience, ferocity—the ability to fight back against the table. I've told the squad they know there's only one option."
The stakes couldn't be higher for Cremonese, who find themselves in a desperate fight to avoid relegation. Coming off a tough defeat to Lazio, Giampaolo is demanding a response from his players, but he's not taking anything for granted against already-relegated Pisa. "Nobody gives anything to anyone," he warned. "Pisa will play their match as is right. We need to look deeper—into our feelings, our team relationships. I have nothing to reproach from the Lazio loss. I'm not criticizing the squad; I'm calling them to this appointment."
When asked about motivation—a hot topic among frustrated fans—Giampaolo pushed back firmly. "An unmotivated player gives nothing emotionally, someone to whom winning or losing doesn't matter. I don't think we have players like that here. Tomorrow there's a roll call, and we're called to respond with our attitudes and resilience. The discussion goes beyond three points."
On a positive note, Giampaolo confirmed that midfielders Collocolo and Thorsby are available for selection, adding depth to the squad. While tactical questions swirled, the manager kept his focus squarely on the bigger picture: a must-win showdown that could define Cremonese's season. For fans and neutrals alike, this is the kind of high-stakes drama that makes Serie A so compelling—and Vardy's starting role adds a layer of intrigue to an already tense affair.