The French striker scored two headers against Ajax, thanking the Turkish midfielder for his assists and stating, “I have great chemistry with Pio.”
Thuram`s Performance and Fan Trust
A bouquet of orange tulips could be prepared for Marcus Thuram, symbolizing talent, understanding, and trust. All these qualities were vividly displayed against Ajax: his remarkable ability to score two headers, his strong connection with midfielder Calhanoglu, and the renewed confidence of the Nerazzurri fans. This performance comes after a week of controversy, following an exchange of smiles with his brother after Adzic`s goal.
“People interpret things however they want, but they also know I will give everything for Inter,” Thuram stated. Addressing his two headed goals, he added, “Thanks to `Calha` (Hakan Calhanoglu); he delivered the corners perfectly…”
The Striker`s Evolution
Thuram flawlessly executed the clinical strategy devised by coach Chivu in his former home stadium. Inter capitalized on two right-sided corners, with Marcus powerfully heading them into the net, bringing his season`s tally to four headed goals. This surpasses his three headed goals from the previous year. This achievement is particularly notable for a player who had only scored ten headed goals in his entire career before joining Inter; now, wearing the Nerazzurri shirt, he has already notched eight.
He is a striker meticulously developed over time through his own dedication and the guidance of various coaches, from Simone Inzaghi to Chivu. The French international has already netted 5 goals in four matches this season: two against Torino, one against Juventus, and the two crucial goals against Ajax. His father, Lilian Thuram, famously played at the Johan Cruijff Arena once in 2004, when John Heitinga, now Ajax`s coach, was among the Dutch ranks.
Lilian, What Do You Say?
Thuram`s outstanding performance is also underscored by his statistics: he won six out of eight aerial duels, touched the ball 34 times, made three flick-ons, and completed all but four passes. His chemistry with young striker Pio Esposito, who made his Champions League starting debut, was exceptional.
“All of Italy knows Pio,” Marcus said after the match, “he`s a fantastic guy, just like Lautaro and Bonny. The understanding between us was great. The most important thing is for Inter to win; we played a serious game. Now, our focus shifts to Sunday.”
The Nerazzurri are set to challenge Sassuolo next. “We played an excellent match without conceding any goals; that was precisely our objective. We knew we needed to bounce back after the defeat against Juventus. But we need to secure more points to advance to the knockout stages.” Last season, Thuram concluded his Champions League campaign with 4 goals in 14 matches, with only one coming in the group stage (against Young Boys). He already has two this season, a clear and significant sign of his ongoing progress. His father occasionally teases him about needing to improve his heading ability, but tonight, Marcus certainly demonstrated remarkable advancements.
