CREMONA - An unacceptable performance, punished with another defeat. Cremonese lost 1-0 at home to Juve Stabia, conceding from a corner for the second game running and slipping to 19th place with just six points.
Fabio Pecchia offered no excuses. The manager faced the press and took full responsibility for the defeat on matchday eight of Serie BKT. "I take responsibility for the performance," Pecchia stated. "I probably didn't transmit the right energy, because this cannot be my Cremonese."
The mistake on the decisive corner
The winning goal from Bellich in the 25th minute came from a studied set-piece. Pecchia explained he misjudged Berti's positioning in the wall, leaving a channel open for the opponent's shot. "It's my mistaken evaluation," the coach admitted. "In the last match we defended differently, I judged Berti's position to be too open."
The team reacted by creating a few chances, like a powerful Grassi strike saved by Vuković in the 33rd minute. In the second half, however, they lacked the spark to turn the game around. Cremonese were vulnerable to counter-attacks in the final twenty minutes, another aspect for which Pecchia pointed the finger at himself.
The worrying league position
With this defeat, their third in the league, the grey-reds remain third from bottom with six points, just two points above the direct relegation zone. They have won only once, against Padova, and scored a mere seven goals. The gap to the playoff places is already eleven points.
Pecchia dismissed any notion he is being left isolated by the club. "I am not left alone by the club," he clarified. "From day one I speak with the club and the management. The table is an objective fact, the league is demanding." The manager acknowledged the fans' disappointment, with 10,234 present at the Giovanni Zini, promising answers on the pitch.
The next challenge is already on Tuesday night, away to Catanzaro. A match that, in Pecchia's words, must be used to restart without burdens. The team will be without Ciofani, still on the injuries list, but can count on Vandeputte, currently the top scorer with three goals. Tuesday's 8:30 PM fixture is an immediate opportunity to try and change gear.
