Ange Postecoglou, the Tottenham Hotspur manager, labelled assists the “most useless statistic in world football” this week. Try telling that to Domenico Berardi’s Sassuolo teammates.

The 30-year-old’s selflessness has been on display in numerous forms this season, not least the fact the Italy international stuck with the club following it’s demotion to the second tier last year.

But it has been his ability to turn provider at will for Fabio Grosso’s team that has demonstrated his true value to the Neroverdi. Before Pisa arrived in Reggio Emilia on Saturday evening the No 10 already had 11 assists to his name in just 19 appearances. By full-time he had another as he laid on the only goal in a 1-0 win that put his side eight points clear at the top of Serie B.

Only earlier this week in an interview with Gazzetta, Armand Lauriente reinforced that sentiment of a man who doesn’t appear to have a selfish bone in his body.

“His way of involving everyone is unique. He’s the soul of the locker room,” he said. “He puts his experience at the service of everyone, he’s a leader.

“And then he has assists in his blood. Assists also mean generosity and he is generous. I remember when he gave me the penalty against Milan at San Siro. These are things I don’t forget.”

Both Berardi and Lauriente are set to be back at San Siro with Sassuolo next season, with their assent back to the top flight turning into something of a procession. Even if Fabio Grosso is refusing to admit the job is done, the confidence his team are playing with would suggest otherwise.

Berardi embodies that confidence. During the warm up at the Mapei Stadium he cut a relaxed figure, attempting to nutmeg Scottish Under-21 international Josh Doig and chatting with the rest of the squad.

His demeanour during the game can look laid back, too. Often the right winger’s speed fluctuated between a meander and a stroll while out of possession. But it’s when the ball is at his feet that he comes alive.

As early as the ninth minute Berardi was off in search of another assist. Favouring his left foot, his position on the right allows him to deliver dangerous inswinging balls. On this occasion his whipped cross found the head of Luca Mazzitelli, the January arrival denied the opener by Adrian Semper’s full-length stop to tip it around the post.

He looks out for his team-mates in other ways, showing a protective streak you’d expect of a vice captain. The forward was quick to back up a frustrated Lauriente after he was brought down by a fluorescent yellow shirt for what he felt was the umpteenth time.

Berardi didn’t take kindly to being upended himself by Marius Marin, pursuing the Pisa midfielder before letting him know what he thought of the challenge. It wasn’t long though before he got back to what he does best.

Assist number 12 of the season arrived in the 22nd minute. Once again, Berardi had time to move the ball onto his favoured left and whip a cross on to the head of Luca Moro.

The 24-year-old immediately sought out his vice-captain to celebrate. Those in black and green are only too aware of the value he adds to their attack. Amidst the scrum of the celebration Berardi was pulled back in time and again as each player arriving in the pack looked to congratulate him.

The scenes were understandable. This wasn’t just first versus second. This was a team with a point to prove having failed to win any of their previous matches against the rest of the division’s top five. This was a chance to show they weren’t just flat-track bullies, that they could turn up in the big matches. And it was one they took.

There was the opportunity for more. In the 39th minute Berardi’s burst down the right presented him with the chance to pick out Lauriente at the far post but his right-footed centre was poor. His immediate reaction suggested he knew it, too.

A cute through ball in the second half this time found the Frenchman, but he could only fire over after eventually sorting out his feet. Serie B’s Mr. Generous would have to settle for the one today.

From time to time though, even someone like Berardi needs a little assistance of his own. On this occasion he had referee Davide Ghersini to thanks for a helping hand.

Having given away a needless foul outside his own box, Pisa thought they had a late equaliser when the ball was turned in from the resulting free kick. Ghersini decided to bring it back to be retaken, much to the dismay of the away team – and the relief of Berardi.

It turns out he’s not the only one who has his team’s back.