Cremona is a city famed for its violins and Jack Hendry is determined he’ll hit the right notes at the Stadio Giovanni Zini in the second half of the season. The Scotland defender joined Cremonese on-loan from Club Brugge in the summer.
The top-flight Italian new boys made their long-awaited Serie A return for the first time in 26 years this summer. They spent big to give coach Massimiliano Alvini a new-look squad and Hendry was one of their marquee signings. But the 26-year-old’s time there hasn’t gone to plan just yet.
There was a hold-up with Hendry’s visa paperwork that left him playing catch-up. A series of niggling injuries didn’t help and then Hendry played through the pain barrier for Scotland, seeing them top their Nations League group – but it left him sidelined with a calf issue for a long spell. It’s been an added frustration Cremonese are still trying to find their feet and sit third bottom, in the relegation positions and six points from safety.
Hendry said: “I’ve been really unfortunate with things that have been out of my control so far. I haven’t clicked into top gear on the pitch yet because of little things, like the injury I suffered away with Scotland.
“I’m still adjusting to life in Italy on and off the park. The manager doesn’t speak English either so I’m trying to learn Italian as quickly as I can. It’s important I do that to immerse myself in the culture as much as I can. This is another life and football experience for me.
“I just need a run of games to get my levels up and to bring a real consistency to my game. I know the club has put a lot of faith in me and it’s been hard, especially with my injuries and the team fighting to find their feet in Serie A.
“There are still 25 or 26 games left in the league and cup after the break. It’s a massive amount of games and there is plenty of time to kick on and get us up the table.”
Cremonese owner Giovanni Arvedi has bankrolled his side’s return to Italian’s top table. He has allowed the signing of 30 players and Hendry has admitted there are similarities with Premier League new boys Nottingham Forest.
He said: “The club has invested heavily this year. If you were to compare us to anyone in Britain it would be maybe similar to Nottingham Forest but on a lesser scale. The club has invested a lot of money and signed players to help keep them in Serie A.
“We will get a bit more time together during the World Cup break and that will be important. It will help us to gel and be ready for the second half of the season.”
Henry did have a number of Bundesliga, English and La Liga options but Cremonse blew the competition away by agreeing a lucrative loan deal with Brugge. Hendry said: “Brugge said I could go out on loan and I had a few options in Italy, England, La Liga and the Bundesliga.
“Italy will be good for my development because I don’t think there is a better league for defending than Serie A. Look at the defenders who have played in Italy and at all the top defensive players who are playing in the league now.
“The coach wants us to play man on man and that is great for me. This style will help me. I’ve played in a few different leagues and now I’m desperate to do well in Italy with Cremonese. I believe I can do well here, once I am fit and can get a consistent run in the team.”
Former Italy striker Gianluca Vialli is one of Cremonese’s favourite footballing sons and while they hadn’t been in Serie A for two decades, Hendry’s been blown away by their fans.
The former Celtic and Dundee defender said: “The passion for football is massive and we have capacity crowds for most of our home games. We have a massive away support as well. At home, the atmosphere is really good because the fans are close to the pitch and the ultras add to things. They just live and breathe football.”
Hendry is one of four Scots now plying their trade in Serie A and says it’s great for the Scottish game, thanks to Aaron Hickey’s recent exploits before swapping Bologna for Brentford. He added: “It is brilliant.
"Hickey has given a platform for Scottish players to come across here. Liam Henderson has also done well out here. We played Empoli on Friday and it was good to touch base with him and get his thoughts, he’s been in Italy for a long time.
“It’s one of the top leagues in Europe again and for Scottish players to come across and test themselves is good to see. It’s also good to see Lewis Ferguson and Josh Doig come out and test themselves in a different environment, it’s not an easy thing to do. It can only be good for their development and the national team.”
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