The Sassuolo striker demonstrated that the center forward is not measured only by the goals scored: two assists to his teammates and two goals
Do you know the one who goes to hell and sees the damned having lunch at a large table? They all hold wooden spoons with meter-long handles and try to pick up rice from their bowl, but they get in each other’s way, they argue, they fight, the bowls tip over, no one manages to eat. Then the guy goes up to heaven and sees the blessed sitting at the same table with the same spoons. Everyone takes the opposite one and everyone gets their fill in blissful harmony. The modern version of the parable staged at San Siro.
the long spoon
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There are center forwards who, if they don’t receive the ball, get nervous, huff, wave and, when they receive it, immediately look for the goal. Vlahovic? And then there’s Pinamonti on Sunday. Shots on target, off target or blocked: zero. Balls played: 17, fewer than anyone else. But instead of huffing and puffing, he remained focused, like a surfer waiting for a good wave. He received two. Not waves: shores. With the first he scored Koné, with the second Laurienté. Two touches, two goals. He fed his teammates with a long spoon and Sassuolo felt in heaven. The bank is an ancient tool that has become tremendously modern in the football of low blocks and narrow spaces: a first touch, with sensitivity and timing, à la Pina, can be the “Open sesame!”. In a center forward, selfishness is a virtue, almost never a sin. Barone is still waiting for that pass from Inzaghi. But, in the former temple of Pippo, Lord of goals, Pinamonti has shown that you can also be happy on the bank. In a team sport, the most generous choice is often the best. Even in life.
