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| | Week 5 Spotlight: Handyman Frey | Monday 26 September, 2005 |
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 Player of the Week: Frey (Fiorentina)
Sebastien Frey has come some way since conceding six goals in that incredible Milan derby back in May 2001. The Fiorentina ‘keeper underlined his progression on Sunday night when his one-man show kept the score respectable, against a side who undoubtedly got rid of him too soon in his career.
Although Frey ended up on the wrong end of a 1-0 scoreline, the 25-year-old pulled off at least four stunning stops to continually deny the Inter onslaught directed towards his goal. It was a performance of the highest standard, one that Italian football fans are coming to expect from this talented Frenchman.
Frey started his professional career with Cannes back in 1997, instantly catching the attention of Inter via the eyes of former Nerazzurri and Italy goalkeeper Walter Zenga. Despite Frey’s age and obvious inexperience, he was transferred to the San Siro after just 24 Ligue 1 games.
Having guarded the goal for seven Serie A matches, Frey was then loaned to Verona in the summer of 1999 where regular first team football helped him to flourish into one of the peninsula’s most exciting prospects. He did enough at the Stadio Bentegodi to win the faith of Inter as they handed him the No 1 jersey for the following campaign.
However, Inter endured a difficult term and subsequently so did their shot-stopper. They finished fifth, having conceded a massive 47 goals, which left them with some doubts over Frey’s pedigree. They lacked the patience needed for Frey to mature, instead selling him to Parma in favour of spending £17m on then Fiorentina ace Francesco Toldo.
The latter has admittedly done a reasonable job for Inter but he spent last night on the bench, given his new role as Julio Cesar’s understudy. Meanwhile, Fiorentina’s summer capture from the Stadio Tardini stole the show thanks to his fine handiwork. The Tuscan side have undoubtedly brought in one of the best ‘keepers around, what a pity for France that Les Bleus boss Raymond Domenech has yet to realise that fact.
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Goal of the Week: Cozza (Reggina)
Reggina desperately needed a win in Week 5 and captain Francesco Cozza delivered them one in some style against Udinese. Having lost their opening four matches, the pressure was mounting on boss Walter Mazzarri until Cozza’s screamer handed the Granillo outfit a lead which they didn’t surrender.
The attacking midfielder, a kind of Kaka of the provinces, picked up the ball with his back towards goal. With the aid of a quick shuffle, he sat down Valerio Bertotto before unleashing a thunderous effort towards the top corner of the goal. ‘Keeper Morgan De Sanctis took flight but it was just too accurate and too powerful to deny Cozza a real beauty.
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 Number of the Week: 571
After being rested for the midweek win against Lazio, Paolo Maldini returned to the Milan line-up on Sunday to surpass Dino Zoff’s record of 570 games in Serie A. The 2-0 win at Treviso, who have lost all five games this term, also gave Andriy Shevchenko the chance to score his 150th goal in the Rossoneri jersey. |
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| Words: Antonio Labbate |
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