Raise your hand if you expected such a contribution from Thorir Johann Helgason from Hafnarfjörður, Iceland. At the time of his reinstatement on the roster in place of the injured Banda, comments of disappointment about the “quality” of the graft, which in the summer became a mystery object to be placed. Marco Giampaolo, from the very first day of his experience in Lecce, put Helgason back in the center of the group by throwing him on the field already in his scorching debut on the field of Venezia.
Since the 12′ played at the Penzo (complete with a wasted free kick that also became sarcastic writing on the walls near the church of Santa Maria della Porta), Helgason’s performance has been a crescendo of confidence and quality of touch. Compared to the other midfielders on the roster, the Icelander, who is now definitely aiming for a return to the national team, has ensured a crescendo in offensive build-up with frontline tilts, assists and missed personal goals in Empoli (Seghetti’s save) and yesterday in Parma.
The fact that Thorir Johann Helgason is one of the most in-form members of Lecce’s roster is under the eyes of everyone, fans and insiders alike, although, as already described, probably no one expected such a decisive impact of the midfielder. The Icelander, in fact, plays as if he had always been part of the starting eleven, being perfectly inserted into the team’s mechanisms.
Certainly much of the credit goes to coach Giampaolo who, not only decided to give him a chance despite being sidelined at the beginning of the season, but also carved out a role for him that seems tailor-made for him, with freedom of movement and initiative. A modern midfielder in his own right, capable of creating superiority and triggering attackers.
Looking at Helgason’s track record, a walk-on in his Serie A year with Baroni, the positive response on the field was not entirely expected, both because of an athletic factor due to a lack of match rhythm and a mental factor in light of not being listed at the beginning of the season and not moving to the Germans of Eintracht Braunschweig, where, after Lecce, he made room for himself by contributing to salvation in the Zweite Liga and becoming a fan favorite.
Thorir, however, like a true professional, worked his head off, making himself ready at the right time and proving that he can become an indispensable element for this final season of the Giallorossi. If the excellent performance in Empoli could have been fortuitous, yesterday in Parma was confirmation that Lecce has found, at home, a player it can count on to achieve the goal of a third consecutive salvation.
The cover of the beautiful night in the chill of the Tardini and the strong cross with the tally, almost on the sideline and set back from the sixteen yards of the area, for Krstovic’s 1-1. Without bothering with screamer comparisons, the foiling with which Helgason dished out the assist for his partner’s masterful header is a winning shot not seen in these latitudes for a while.
The proof of what he described can be seen in the words given in the post-Parma-Lecce 1-3 press conference. Asked precisely about his path, Helgason smiled and after calling the question in English “tough,” arduous, he said that he has always believed in his own means, a propaedeutic phase of happiness for helping Lecce score points at this difficult stage of the season.
The article Helgason, from mystery object to midfield pivot comes from Calcio Lecce.
