First time as an opponent for the coach, welcomed with affection by the Rossoneri public in an evening full of emotions and meaning
For those who believe in the signs of destiny, lining up three of them in just over three hours is the furthest thing from randomness. It’s happening to Stefano Pioli tonight. 8.45pm: bench number 500 in Serie A. 12pm: birthday number 60. Two round numbers, very round indeed. Both important, career and life balance sheet figures. Well, all this happens on the evening in which Stefano finds what was his for the first time. That Milan took to the top of the championship for the scudetto which the fans immediately dubbed “the best ever”. First time against the Devil, first time at San Siro as an opponent against the Rossoneri.
effect
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How did it go? Simple and perhaps obvious: the Meazza is a grateful stadium and therefore paid homage to him. Nothing from the director: “Pioli is on fire”, it would perhaps have been excessive, but the curve (flags and banners returned: Sodalizio Rossonero, Appartenenza and Milanismo the three biggest centre-backs) called him loudly during the warm-up. He thanked him and said goodbye and then told Dazn: “It’s an emotion, what we experienced together in this stadium is something exceptional.” Then, more applause as the lineups were read, this time from the entire stadium. Until he came out of the tunnel again and went to sit on the bench. This time the left one. It had a certain effect seeing it from above, let alone him.