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Missing Marchisio
Once underrated, this injury lay-off shows how important Claudio Marchisio is to Juventus and Italy, writes Jeremy Lim.
Much like his contribution to games, Claudio Marchisio’s absence has been barely noticed, but decisive. Out of action since tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in April, missing Euro 2016 and the start of this season, the Juventus midfielder has barely been seen or heard. Even when a Marchisio spoke in an interview last week, it was his father, Antonio, in front of the microphones.
How very Marchisio-like to pass unnoticed, not a player to dominate the headlines or the front pages. This summer, Gonzalo Higuain arrived for over €90m and Paul Pogba departed for over €100m. And yet it is not the Frenchman Juventus fans have been missing, it is Marchisio.
It’s unsurprising Marchisio goes unnoticed. He cost Juventus nothing and, while his tally of three goals and nine assists last season is nothing to snort at, his contributions at the business-end of the pitch don’t make people sit up. Goals and glamour do not define the midfield stalwart’s game. Neither do numbers. It is the balance and less often the brilliance he brings to Massimiliano Allegri’s men that makes him valued.
In teams consisting of Pirlos, Pogbas and Pjanics, he is not a person to stand out. Interviews are rare, adverts rarer and highlight reels non-existent – he is not a star in the classic sense. This season, he has been confined to the role of supporter. “When Juve lose, the anger for him is double: as a player and as a fan,” Antonio Marchisio said.
The defeat at Inter would have hurt. The narrow win at Lazio, in all-too unconvincing fashion, harrowing. Marchisio knows what he could have contributed. His Coach, team-mates and the fans knew too. Intelligence, awareness, calculation, positioning are his traits, ones that have improved everyone’s performances too. His game polarised fans at the start of his career. Accused of disappearing too often, a move to playmaker has breathed new life into him.
Supporters saw more of him there. Marchisio has never carried the team, but he lends a big hand. The 30-year-old lacks Kwadwo Asamoah’s athleticism and Miralem Pjanic’s panache, but fans notice when he is not there. There is less ability to manage the game, there is less direction and the midfield lacks the ability to see danger before it happens that he brings. The differences are subtle, but still sizeable.
Measuring Marchisio’s significance is certainly difficult, but one way is the relief with which news of his impending return is being greeted within the Juve circles. The club icon has quietly and consistently made his case to be included in the midfields of multiple Juventus and Italy Coaches. Those who matter know he matters, and the Press and pundits have slowly been catching on.
Even then, the fanfare when he steps back on a pitch will be limited. But he won’t care. He is not a player to stand in the spotlight, but he stands up when he’s needed. Flamboyant? Never. The words 'steady' and 'unerring’ pop up often when describing him, less often 'star’. Marchisio does not care about being seen or being heard, only about helping Juventus continue their winning ways.
Once underrated, this injury lay-off shows how important Claudio Marchisio is to Juventus and Italy, writes Jeremy Lim.
Much like his contribution to games, Claudio Marchisio’s absence has been barely noticed, but decisive. Out of action since tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in April, missing Euro 2016 and the start of this season, the Juventus midfielder has barely been seen or heard. Even when a Marchisio spoke in an interview last week, it was his father, Antonio, in front of the microphones.
How very Marchisio-like to pass unnoticed, not a player to dominate the headlines or the front pages. This summer, Gonzalo Higuain arrived for over €90m and Paul Pogba departed for over €100m. And yet it is not the Frenchman Juventus fans have been missing, it is Marchisio.
It’s unsurprising Marchisio goes unnoticed. He cost Juventus nothing and, while his tally of three goals and nine assists last season is nothing to snort at, his contributions at the business-end of the pitch don’t make people sit up. Goals and glamour do not define the midfield stalwart’s game. Neither do numbers. It is the balance and less often the brilliance he brings to Massimiliano Allegri’s men that makes him valued.
In teams consisting of Pirlos, Pogbas and Pjanics, he is not a person to stand out. Interviews are rare, adverts rarer and highlight reels non-existent – he is not a star in the classic sense. This season, he has been confined to the role of supporter. “When Juve lose, the anger for him is double: as a player and as a fan,” Antonio Marchisio said.
The defeat at Inter would have hurt. The narrow win at Lazio, in all-too unconvincing fashion, harrowing. Marchisio knows what he could have contributed. His Coach, team-mates and the fans knew too. Intelligence, awareness, calculation, positioning are his traits, ones that have improved everyone’s performances too. His game polarised fans at the start of his career. Accused of disappearing too often, a move to playmaker has breathed new life into him.
Supporters saw more of him there. Marchisio has never carried the team, but he lends a big hand. The 30-year-old lacks Kwadwo Asamoah’s athleticism and Miralem Pjanic’s panache, but fans notice when he is not there. There is less ability to manage the game, there is less direction and the midfield lacks the ability to see danger before it happens that he brings. The differences are subtle, but still sizeable.
Measuring Marchisio’s significance is certainly difficult, but one way is the relief with which news of his impending return is being greeted within the Juve circles. The club icon has quietly and consistently made his case to be included in the midfields of multiple Juventus and Italy Coaches. Those who matter know he matters, and the Press and pundits have slowly been catching on.
Even then, the fanfare when he steps back on a pitch will be limited. But he won’t care. He is not a player to stand in the spotlight, but he stands up when he’s needed. Flamboyant? Never. The words 'steady' and 'unerring’ pop up often when describing him, less often 'star’. Marchisio does not care about being seen or being heard, only about helping Juventus continue their winning ways.
what year is it?
That piece seems like it's been written by that khongkongmongolfvck guy trying his hardest to be as fair as he can.