Cremonese coach Davide Nicola has confirmed that Jamie Vardy and Martin Payero will miss the Serie A clash against Parma on Sunday. Despite the absences, Nicola remains confident as his team looks to maintain its unbeaten start to the season.
Vardy and Payero Sidelined for Serie A Match
Vardy, who debuted in the draw against Verona, picked up a muscular injury that rules him out along with Payero and Jeremy Sarmiento. Nicola explained that managing player fitness is a priority, as the squad adapts to the physical demands of the Serie A campaign.
“Vardy and Sarmiento are following personalized training schedules to avoid further issues,” Nicola said. “Payero is at 80% and should return next week.”
Cremonese’s Unbeaten Start and Squad Fitness
Cremonese have enjoyed a strong start in Serie A 2025, remaining unbeaten in their first three matches, including wins over Milan and Sassuolo and a draw at Verona. Nicola stressed the importance of integrating new players while protecting fitness:
“The training workload has been adjusted to prevent injuries. Barbieri is finally returning to full squad participation after a long spell out.”
Parma Preview: Not in Relegation Battle
Looking ahead to the fixture against Parma, Nicola warned that the Ducali are not a team fighting relegation. He praised Parma’s squad construction and coaching, highlighting their tactical identity and strong investments:
“I studied Parma carefully. They are well-built and well-coached by Carlos Cuesta. They won’t be in the relegation battle this season.”
Cremonese Squad for Parma
The Cremonese squad for the Parma match includes: Audero, Silvestri, Nava; Pezzella, Barbieri, Baschirotto, Bianchetti, Floriani Mussolini, Ceccherini, Terracciano, Faye, Folino; Zerbin, Collocolo, Vandeputte, Grassi, Bondo, Lordkipanidze; Johnsen, Moumbagna, Vazquez, Bonazzoli, Sanabria.
Conclusion: Cremonese Eye Continued Success
Despite injury setbacks to key players, Cremonese aim to continue their unbeaten run against Parma. With Vardy and Payero recovering and Barbieri reintegrating, the Seahorses are determined to build on early-season momentum in Serie A.
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