STATS VS LOSSES: WHY JAMIE VARDY WON SERIE A AWARD DESPITE CREMONESE'S NOVEMBER SLUMP
Jamie Vardy became the first English player to win Serie A Player of the Month. We analyse the stats that earned him the award despite Cremonese's poor November results.
Jamie Vardy is making waves in Italy, becoming the first English player to scoop up Serie A's Player of the Month award.
The Leicester icon, who moved from King Power to join Cremonese in the summer, grabbed the November award. The winner is picked using a mix of fan votes and stats.
Even though he got the award, Vardy only scored one league goal in November during Cremonese's 2-1 loss to Juventus. Plus, his team lost all three games he played that month.
But things turned around on December 1 when he scored twice against Bologna. Since then, he’s helped the team move into the top half of the table with back-to-back wins—a first for them this season.
After Vardy’s two goals against Bologna, Cremonese coach Davide Nicola mentioned that the 38-year-old still has his usual eating habits.
In a 2022 interview, Vardy said his diet includes things like cheese and ham omelettes, pizza, coffee, port, and Red Bull.
The former Leicester City player and his family are getting used to life in Italy.
Nicola said that Vardy makes his own breakfast at the training ground. He told Record, a Portuguese news source, Each player gets meals that are special for them, whether it's for breakfast or dinner. The same menu for everyone is not used again.
Cultures are all different, with everyone having different needs because of things like allergies. Everyone gets their own menu. I don't control what they eat because it's part of their lives. They usually eat at the training grounds two or three times, and sometimes for dinner.
Vardy's routine has been talked about since he shared his pre-game habits with Sky Sports.
I wake up in the morning and then grab a Red Bull. After getting out of bed, I get the kids up and take them downstairs, help them with breakfast, and then drink a Red Bull, he said.
He also said that he drinks coffee before having a cheese and ham omelette with another can of Red Bull.
He said he used to drink port before games, adding that it helps him relax and sleep better the night before a game.
Serie A said on Thursday that Vardy was given the award because the EA SPORTS FC Player Of The Month award for November has been given to Jamie Vardy, who plays for Cremonese.
Online votes from fans, with stats, showed that Jamie Vardy should win. He beat other players such as Mike Maignan, Lautaro Martinez, David Neres, Leo Ostigard, and Nicolo Zaniolo.
Vardy's wife, Rebekah, has often been seen in the stands since they moved in the summer.
Serie A CEO Luigi De Siervo said Vardy is from another era.
Since moving to Italy, Rebekah has had to deal with a robbery that happened at their new house on Lake Garda.
The six best players of the month have been chosen, considering Kama Sport's advanced review, with tracking data from the Hawk-Eye system. The rating system looks at stats and how they play, along with where they are on the field.
This helps look at key things such as how they move when they don't have the ball, their choices during the game, and how they help the team, which helps to fairly show how well they played.
Luigi De Siervo, CEO of Serie A, said, "Jamie Vardy is a player from a past era." He has a great history, successes, and a never-give-up attitude that shows how great football is.
Cremonese took the chance to sign him this summer, which was exciting for Serie A fans. Vardy is paying them back with great play, being a leader, and scoring important goals, which come from his competitive spirit and shooting skills.
PULISIC HITS BACK: MILAN STAR SHUTS DOWN 2026 GOAL DROUGHT CONCERNS
"I haven't stopped dreaming." Christian Pulisic addresses his goal drought and the frustration of missing out on the Gold Cup squad.
Christian Pulisic isn’t holding back. When critics started questioning his recent form and worried about his 2026 goal drought, he shut them down, calling those concerns “bad questions". The AC Milan forward, fresh off his Time magazine cover, still trusts his ability to step up for the USMNT as they gear up to co-host the World Cup.
All eyes are on him.
The U.S. is set to share the stage for the 2026 World Cup, and Pulisic is set to become the go-to guy for the national team. Landing on the cover of Time isn’t something soccer stars from America get every day, and it just shows how big a deal he’s become, especially after proving himself in Europe. But right as people are finally giving him mainstream recognition, he’s under the microscope for not putting up his usual numbers in front of the goal.
He’s not fazed by the dip.
When Time asked about his goal drought and how he’s handling not scoring for club or country this year, Pulisic didn’t mince words; he’s not sweating it. “I plan on scoring goals. Such bad questions. I’m not concerned about it, man.” You can hear the confidence in his voice.
Dealing with the noise
Pulisic admits this stretch feels extra tough. Missing out on last June’s Gold Cup squad hurt him, mostly because he’s used to shutting people up with his play. “Normally, I just go out there and score, and that quiets everybody. Right now, I’m in my offseason, so everyone’s talking, and I can’t do anything about it. That’s what’s frustrating.”
For Pulisic, attacking is everything. “Going at the goal, creating attacks, that’s what I live for. Sure, you have to do all the other stuff: defend, run, whatever. That’s fine. But what really gives me joy is finding ways to score and actually scoring.”
Chasing the dream
The U.S. opens their World Cup run against Paraguay at the SoFi Stadium on June 12, and Pulisic will lead the team right here at home. He doesn’t like making big public predictions, but at 27, he keeps that childhood dream alive. “That’s just not how I work. But I’ll lie in bed and imagine myself holding the World Cup trophy. I did that when I was a kid, and I haven’t stopped. You need to believe. Why not?”
WHY DID LAUTARO MARTINEZ REJECT A CAREER-DEFINING MOVE TO THE PREMIER LEAGUE?
"I love Milan." Read why 28-year-old Lautaro Martinez rejected Manchester United and Arsenal to stay at the San Siro in 2026.
Inter captain Lautaro Martinez has clearly put an end to any speculation about leaving San Siro, making it known that he has no plans to entertain offers from Europe’s top clubs. Even with regular links to teams like Barcelona, Manchester United, and Arsenal, the Argentine forward is fully committed to what’s happening in Milan.
Martinez has been quite vocal about his dedication to Inter amid constant rumours about his future. Despite frequent connections to some of the biggest clubs on the continent, he insists there’s no reason for him to move on from the current Serie A champions.
Media reports have often tied him to Barcelona, PSG, Arsenal, and Manchester United. But through various transfer windows, Martinez has consistently pushed back on the idea of leaving Inter. At 28, he remains a key figure in the team’s current setup and has stepped up as the club’s captain and on-field leader.
In an interview with Cronache di Spogliatoio, Martinez expressed his loyalty to Inter’s project. He made it clear that he isn’t interested in changing clubs despite the speculation.
He said, “No, because I am faithful to the Inter project, I feel at home here. My family is happy, we have a restaurant in the city, and we love Milan. From the first day, everyone treated me in a way I didn’t think possible. I achieved so many personal and team goals here.”
Success on the pitch seems to deepen his connection to the club. Inter recently secured another league title and continues to chase trophies, including the Coppa Italia. On an individual level, Martinez is eyeing the Capocannoniere prize as Serie A’s top scorer. His steady performances underline why he’s considered one of the most reliable forwards in European football.
Since his move from Racing Club in 2018, Martinez has become the defining presence in Inter’s modern lineup. With 173 goals over 372 competitive games, it’s clear how vital he is to the team.
Looking ahead, the club sees Martinez as a central piece in their long-term plans. His leadership and scoring ability make him hard to replace. Settled both on and off the field in Milan, he seems set on continuing his story at the Giuseppe Meazza, despite ongoing interest from Europe’s elite clubs.
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