Striker Marcus Thuram was not at his best in Inter Milan’s Serie A win over Lecce at the San Siro yesterday evening.
Today’s print edition of Rome-based newspaper Corriere dello Sport, via FCInterNews, give the Frenchman a score of just 5.5/10 in the player ratings for the match.
So far this season, Thuram has been a player Inter have turned to when they need to unlock a match.
The Frenchman’s dribbling ability and turn of pace mean that he can turn a relatively innocuous situation into a dangerous one in a flash.
Moreover, Thuram has shown no lack of end product. The former Borussia Monchengladbach striker has hit the ground running in terms of his tactical understanding, timing of runs into the penalty area, and the composure of his finishes.
But none of that was really on show against Lecce yesterday evening.
Quiet Evening For Marcus Thuram As Inter Beat Lecce
Thuram started in attack along with Marko Arnautovic yesterday evening.
The pair formed the striker tandem in the absence of Inter captain Lautaro Martinez, Thuram’s usual partner in crime.
And perhaps the Argentine’s absence disturbed the usual balance a little too much for Thuram.
The Frenchman played high up the pitch, with a bit less license to roam around looking to affect the game than he typically has.
Rather, Thuram and Arnautovic aimed to put the Lecce centre-backs under constant pressure.
Whilst this kind of physical battle and holdup play certainly suits Arnautovic’s strengths, it is not really the natural game of Thuram.
The 26-year-old had two very physical defenders to contend with in Marin Pongracic and Federico Baschirotto.
And without the chance to build up a head of steam or look for pockets of space, Thuram did not win his battle with the Lecce centre-backs.
It was not an eye-catchingly bad performance from the Frenchman. But it mostly saw him quietly do his job keeping the team shape – not the lively performance that Inter fans have come to expect.
