The former Argentine striker who gave Cremonese a historic victory at the Meazza 33 years ago recounts: “They were in danger of not qualifying for Europe, and when we returned home… We’ll easily avoid relegation this year, Vardy will make the difference.“
”I remember everything about that day, even though it was a few years ago: San Siro was a madhouse, Inter were in danger of missing out on European football while Milan were about to win the Scudetto. We felt like we were on another planet… I still remember the faces of my teammates and the welcome we received when we returned to Cremona after that victory,” begins Gustavo Abel Dezotti’s recollection, because you never forget your first time: on May 10, 1992, Cremonese finally conquered San Siro, thanks to his two goals.
The former Argentina striker, now 61, wore the Cremonese shirt from 1989 to 1994, wanted by the Luzzara and Favalli club after a lackluster season at Lazio. Burgnich welcomed him directly into Serie A, then with Giagnoni he first achieved promotion and then relegation, until the era of Gigi Simoni began, and with that Cremonese Dezotti experienced the golden age of the Grigiorossi: in 1992, the team returned to the top flight, also winning the Anglo-Italian Cup at the legendary Wembley Stadium and achieving its first historic survival in Serie A at the end of the season. Needless to say, Dezotti bid farewell that year with a goal on the last day of the season against Genoa. After four more seasons in Mexico, Argentina, and Uruguay, he began a managerial career at the club where he started, Newell’s Old Boys in Rosario, the city where he still lives today.
Dezotti, what does Cremonese mean to you today?
“It’s the memory of the five best years of my career, with Cremona remaining my second home. I went back once, in 2005, with my son Matias, who was 8 years old and said to me, ‘Dad, they recognize you more here than in Argentina!’. Every time my wife Rosanna, my daughter Lionella, and I think about taking a trip, we say that we have to stop in Cremona… In the meantime, I try to watch some of Cremo’s games—I didn’t miss their winning debut at San Siro!—I keep up to date with the results, and we still have a WhatsApp group where we keep in touch with our former teammates. The soul of the group is still Maestro Montorfano, a born organizer!”
Cremonese is currently one of three undefeated teams in Serie A, along with Juve and Atalanta: how does that make you feel?
“It’s incredible, and it makes me very happy!”
What do you think of the team today? Will it manage to stay up?
“Of course it will! Not only will it stay up, but it will have a comfortable season, finishing mid-table. From what I’ve seen, it has heart, brains, and legs. I like it. And Vardy can make the difference.”
Meanwhile, Inter vs. Cremonese will be played tomorrow at San Siro. The teams are tied on nine points in the standings, which is thrilling. What’s your prediction?
