The Argentinian captain has his critics but is the leader and inspiration behind a team finding their feet again
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eave it to a 20-year-old, with three Serie A starts under his belt, to provide a most perceptive analysis of the Italian top flight as we head into a new year. “The most difficult thing to do in this game,” said Francesco Pio Esposito on Sunday night, “is to stick the ball in the net.”
He was speaking in praise of his Inter teammate, Lautaro Martínez, whom he set up for the decisive goal in a 1-0 win away to Atalanta. Pio Esposito had barely entered as a second-half substitute when he was gifted possession by an opponent, Berat Djimsiti. Instead of taking the chance on himself, he froze the last defender and released Lautaro to score with a side-footed through-ball.
This has been an up-and-down season so far for Inter, still working out who they want to be six months into Cristian Chivu’s tenure as manager. They have lost four league games – including matches against title rivals Juventus, Milan and Napoli – and were knocked out of the SuperCoppa before the final by Bologna.
