12/03/2002
[translated by MANUELA]
INZAGHI COMES BACK: IT’S IMMEDIATELY A GOAL
MILANELLO.
100 days ago, Filippo Inzaghi injured himself in a crash with Cristiano
Lupatelli, goalkeeper of Chievo: an accident considered by someone – first of
all Adriano Galliani – the beginning of the crisis of Milan, in that moment 4th
in the placings with 3 points less than Inter, which was the leader. Yesterday,
after the end of a friendly match, the forward cancelled the last doubts and the
remaining fears: he will come back to play next Sunday night, against Torino,
entering the field in the last 20-30 minutes. Instead there is no question he
leaves tomorrow for Cyprus with the rest of the group, as hoped by someone of
Milan who searches desperately something that can gives optimism to a team in
crisis: in fact to be ready to fight he needs another whole week of serene and
intense trainings, without undertaking heavy trips or useless risks. But
probably Filippo Inzaghi will play against Hapoel Tel Aviv, in the return match,
his first match from the first minute since that damned and fatal 2 December.
To see Pippo in this decisive test it’s arrived in Milanello also those persons who are always close to him. As his father Giancarlo, come here with Tullio Tinti, manager of the forward, and with his collaborator Tiberio Cavalleri. The father’s eyes followed the running of the forward with obvious apprehension but also with great satisfaction, because Inzaghi family needed a good news to be comforted after the 5 goals undergone by Simone in the derby and after the recent mishaps of Milan. Besides, red&black forward scored also a goal, that counts nothing but causes a sensation and makes the morale high: “Inzaghi comes back and scores” has a good nice sound. The forward remained on the field for 40 minutes: the 30 minutes of the first half and some others in the second half. Vincenzo Pincolini, athletic trainer of Milan, gives encouraging news about the condition of the injured players (Inzaghi, Serginho and Ambrosini): "They are at the 70% of their physical condition, so we must be satisfied and optimistic." Anyway Filippo Inzaghi doesn’t feel like promising anything, he asks to be patient towards him (legitimate demand but which risks to be passed over by Milan needs: in this emergency it’s inevitable he is seen as the rescuer). Anyway the forward says: "I’m happy of my conditions, it would be a wonderful gift to be able to play 20 minutes of the match against Torino. Before being again the player I was before the injury, anyway, we will have to wait some time." Among his worries there’s, above all, the emotional impact with the field, the match, the physical crash: what will be his reaction in front of a defender that hits him hard, or maybe only threats to do it? It’s a question that will have an answer on Sunday evening, in the last minutes of Milan-Torino, or maybe in the following matches, when he will finally play since the first minute. Instead it shouldn’t be a problem the complete recovery of the athletic condition: Filippo Inzaghi has a physical structure that permits him to be on form immediately, in fact also in the summer he is among the first players who play at an excellent level.
[TUTTOSPORT]
