The newly promoted. Stroppa-Cremonese in the balance, Gilardino hypothesis

After the holidays comes the need to organize the next season as soon as possible. Cremonese is therefore already working to outline the first moves in view of the jump to Serie A. Also because the future of two main authors of the very recent triumphal ride, the sporting director Simone Giacchetta and the coach Giovanni Stroppa, is yet to be written. The two have contracts expiring at the end of June. And in the event of a farewell, the first names being considered by the club would be Petrachi as ds and Gilardino for the bench.

Stroppa was clear but at the same time cryptic: "I would never want to stop coaching this group. I don't know what I'll do, but I'll stay the same: in B with B players, in A with A players". Perhaps a phrase said "just for the sake of it", perhaps a veiled request for reinforcements. The Cremonese squad has undoubted quality but at the same time needs improvements to best face Serie A. In this specific case two departments give guarantees, two others less so. In goal Fulignati has always been a regular starter throughout the season and also made his mark in the playoff final on Sunday evening. The other well-placed sector is the midfield. Vandeputte stands out above all others, protagonist with 13 assists in the championship. But Azzi, Castagnetti, Collocolo, Pickel and Valoti also have numbers and experience suited to the top division.

Important evaluations will have to be made for defense and attack. The rearguard, in 2025, was the weak point of the Lombards with 27 goals conceded. In addition, two starters like Antov (end of loan from Monza) and Ravanelli (contract expiration) are not certain to stay. Bianchetti and Ceccherini, respectively 32 and 33 years old, have started to suffer on the physical side. Even up front there could be a revolution. Vazquez is far from certain of the renewal. De Luca and Johnsen are moving towards confirmation, while Bonazzoli and Nasti (who took a three-match suspension for the red card received in La Spezia) have achieved numbers that are not very satisfactory and could say goodbye. Alessandro Stella