Napoli beat Frosinone 3-0. New formation, a 3-4-3. Kevin De Bruyne played deeper, and scored twice. A penalty, and a close-range finish from a pull-back by Giovane. Between his two goals, Noa Lang scored as well, from a yard out.
I read it on Monday, at the friterie (the chip stand), in my weekly paper. The score hadn’t changed.
After the match, he told Football Italia he had always been a Number 8, a Number 10. “A Number 8, Number 10 original.” They asked him for a different role, because the midfield was short of bodies.
In my day, the number was on the back. The 8 played in midfield because he wore the 8. Nobody asked the player what he was. You looked at his shirt. I’m not criticising. I’m comparing.
Today you need an interview to know where you play. He explained that Lobotka and Gilmour had played four international matches, that Napoli wanted to rest other players, and that there are nine matches in the coming weeks. It’s clear. It’s even precise. It sounds like an agenda.
He added: “I’m not an emotional person, I am very pragmatic.” I like that sentence. It could have been said in 1980. Nobody would have said it, but it could have been.
Two goals from deeper, Marcel. That’s historic.
The 3-4-3, I counted it three times. That makes ten. With the goalkeeper, eleven. At least that hasn’t changed.
Noa Lang said: “It doesn’t matter for me, the most important thing is that we win the game. He deserved it.” Napoli won. The Number 8 played elsewhere and scored twice. Well. It’s the times.
It’s true, we checked: Football Italia.
