US Cremonese have made a managerial change following a tough start to their Serie B season. Fabio Pecchia is the new head coach of the grey-and-reds, returning to the club after leading them to Serie A promotion in 2022.
The team, currently bottom of the table with 0 points and two defeats from their opening two games, made this decision despite a 2-0 win against Parma in the Italian Cup on Tuesday, September 1st. The cup success was not enough to save Marco Giampaolo's job, and he was dismissed that same evening.
Why did Cremonese sack Giampaolo?
The choice to change manager comes after a negative start to the league campaign. US Cremonese lost their first two Serie B matches without scoring a single goal and conceding four, a record that leaves them in 20th place. The club acted despite the double victory in the first two rounds of the Italian Cup, against Sampdoria and Parma.
Giampaolo had been hired in March of last season but could not prevent relegation from Serie A. The club's management thanked him and his staff for the "professionalism, effort and dedication" shown since their arrival in Cremona. The decision reflects the urgency to reverse a negative trend in the league.
What does Fabio Pecchia's return mean?
Fabio Pecchia signs a contract that ties him once again to the Lombard club. The coach from Formia had already managed the grey-and-reds in the 2021-2022 biennium, achieving historic promotion to the top flight. His immediate task will be to restore identity to a squad that can compete with the best but still needs to find a clear direction.
Pecchia inherits a squad dealing with the injury absence of David Stückler, as per data updated to September 4th. His debut on the Cremonese bench will be on Sunday against Padova, a match the team absolutely must win to escape the dangerous area of the standings. The club now finds itself with three managers on its payroll, including Nicola.
How does the Primavera 2 championship look?
Meanwhile, for US Cremonese's youth sector, the Primavera 2 Cisalfa Sport championship has begun. As announced on the club's official website, this tenth edition of the tournament introduces important regulatory changes and a new partnership with title sponsor Cisalfa Sport. One of the second round matches will see Cremonese face Venezia in Group A.
The Lega Serie B has profoundly renewed the tournament commercially, regulatorily, and in terms of image, placing a strong emphasis on valuing young Italian talent. A significant change is the reduction to just one overage player eligible to be fielded, down from three last season. Each matchday will have one game per group broadcast live on the Lega's YouTube channel.
What are the next challenges for the first team?
Cremonese's schedule features demanding commitments both in the league and the cup. After Pecchia's debut against Padova, the team must prepare for the Italian Cup round of 16 against a Como side playing in the Champions League. In Serie B, the next scheduled fixture is the away match against Hellas Verona, set for December 19th.
The team is currently six points behind the league leaders, Modena. To follow the evolution of the situation and consult the full calendar, fans can refer to the site's fixtures page. Pecchia's work will begin by trying to resolve some squad issues, starting with the situation of defender Baschirotto. The next scheduled match is on Sunday at the Giovanni Zini against Padova.
