Neither they knew how to enjoy this moment. Oliver Bierhoff and Alberto Zaccheroni, correspondingly the goal-man and the trainer of the 98/99 Milan, look as if they have not yet focalized the situation. The Lazio, in the advanced match on Saturday and being behind them, falls twice in seven days against the Juve and the red-black team that the day after can place at -1 behind the Roman leading team. But there's across the Udinese that goes fast at home and that for the two protagonists of the Milanista side, reminds more than pleasant memories. Zaccheroni in Friuli has been successful as emergent trainer in the last season. With him the white-black eleven has turned from provincial into a splendid Cinderella able to gain the European stages. For Bierhoff instead the Udine has been the consecration in the football of importance. After troubled seasons at Ascoli, where he must bear criticism an little humiliation, the German bomber in three seasons has been able to carve out an important niche both in the heart of the fans of the Udine and mainly in that of his football homeland. From rough feet boy to the Teutonic star well then, able to make the winning goal at the 1996 European championship. After a world championship where his goals have been not enough for one of the top football powers to get to the elite in the French manifestation , Oliver once he got at the Milan started again with a great will to win the current season, having as trainer the technician that has build with him the miracle Udinese. For both the beginning of the season has meant a period of apprenticeship, finding it hard to apply winning schemes in Friuli and little doubts concerning the capability of adaption of both to the aspiration to be as the presumed 'great' a Milan. A group, that black-red one, that even if with too much critics, has waited for the propitious moment to show its force. Till when Fiorentina and Lazio have set the pace, heeled by Parma at moments, Zaccheroni and his man have kept at a safety distance, failing sometimes more than propitious occasions. But it's an undeniable merit of the Milanista eleven having never failed the continuity in results, relevant performances have alternated unbelievable blackout after at the beginning of the year. The surprising stop of the Lazio in the last two turns has this way allowed the black-reds bringing from seven points to only one the points distancing them from the top. And now the white-light-blue must fight against a team, without having expected it, and has been invited to the great dance of the shield. The almost hook-up of Zac has matured in the last ninety minutes in an almost fancy climate. They get back, the trainer and Bierhoff, to the so loved Udine with an ill-concealed dualism between not affecting splendid memories and centring a victory that could mean the restart of games for the title. There were among others for Oliver a couple of unknowns of a certain relevance, first of all his presence in the field, since his physical conditions were not the best and second that on the bench a certain Ganz was raring to go to a titular place. Second level it rose apprehension the acceptance the public of the 'Friuli' would give him, divided into gratitude for the past and bitterness for a malicious present due to the first round match when the German exulted in a too much sounding way just after a goal of the former mates. The black-red couple has chosen the better way to be the protagonist of today football, where words are too much and facts have ever lesser space. Almost with his head bowed down the big German has received his mates' embrace after both goals, and what to say about the impassive mimic, almost suffering of the Romagnolo trainer after the attacking Milanista jolly run through with impeccable cynicism his former defence? A great behaviour, or to say it better, a composure of both, maybe in the most important match of the season where the black-reds could finally prove themselves they have grown at all. Probably both would want to cry their joy, but they chose the respect toward people that loved them and incited them for years. Paradoxically the better Milan of the season has selected for the two protagonists, to whom it is to join another former player as Thomas Helveg even if inevitably in a minor key, the wrong match. To overcome the Udinese was cruel but needed for the Bierhoff- Zaccheroni couple. But it 's well known that in football, as well as in life, the great targets involve sacrifices and painful chooses. Now more than ever the tandem that makes still dream fans and management, hopes it was worth while.
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