Atalanta has brought home a Player of the Month award this campaign, but it wasn’t who many would think after a cursory glance. Three goals and one of the best assists of the year was enough to deliver Luis Muriel the award. His striker play was sufficient to help Atalanta earn 13 out of 15 points in the month of April, and he deserves this recognition after the unbelievable year he has had – which has been very consistent instead of one incredibly hot month where he racked up and padded his stats.
However, I still can’t help but think he snubbed his own teammate. If you don’t know who I’m talking about yet – it’s the Ukrainian Ruslan Malinokvsyi. Scoring 3 goals to go along with 5 assists – including the Juventus winner – Malinovskyi was by far the most threatening Atalantini this month, not only scoring for himself but setting up teammates as well. I thought he had the monthly award sewn up – so I cannot say not I’m surprised that his teammate came out ahead. But who am I to nitpick? I think when both of them are on the pitch together, they feed off each other and continuously make each other better offensive players. Player awards are great, but the growth and the dynamic there are developing is even more important as we close out the year.
Felicitaciones a nuestro Lucho, and let’s hope that some indvidual La Dea in the league recognition can lead us home to the Top 4 once May closes out. Forza Dea!!!
