Simone Inzaghi, happily steering the ship at Giuseppe Meazza, remains curiously overlooked for roles at other leading clubs, despite his impressive work. Jamie Carragher, in a recent discussion about contenders to Manchester City’s Champions League title, briefly tipped his hat to Inter’s potential, only to pivot back to the belief that Arsenal stands as the primary challenge to Guardiola’s squad.
It appears that Inter’s underestimation, witnessed last season, is persisting, at least among some media circles. Yet, within the football community, Inzaghi’s prowess is far from ignored. Pep Guardiola, reflecting on the Champions League final in June, lauded Inzaghi for his unexpected tactical decisions, conceding that the match was a hair’s breadth from extending into extra time.
Similarly, Diego Simeone, upon learning that his Atletico Madrid would face Inter in this season’s Champions League last 16, praised the “extraordinary” form of Inzaghi’s squad, led by one of his ex-teammates at Lazio. Simeone expressed admiration for Inter’s style of play, predicting a challenging and closely contested tie. This matchup, while perhaps lacking the immediate allure of the Napoli-Barcelona ‘Diego Maradona derby’, stands out due to the current struggles of both Napoli and Barcelona, with the former having already changed coaches this season and the latter in search of a new one.
Surprisingly, amidst discussions about Xavi’s potential replacement, Simone Inzaghi’s name is conspicuously absent. Content at San Siro, he was justifiably secured with a renewed and enhanced contract until 2025 following his success in Istanbul. Yet, it’s interesting to note that other esteemed coaches, such as Simeone, are frequently rumored for top vacancies regardless of their current commitments. Inzaghi’s exclusion from such speculations raises questions.
Barcelona and Liverpool are on the hunt for new managers, with Jurgen Klopp’s unexpected departure this summer, and both Thomas Tuchel at Bayern Munich and Erik ten Hag at Manchester United face significant scrutiny. Amidst the whirlwind of speculation surrounding the future leadership of these iconic clubs, Inzaghi’s candidacy seems overlooked. Why is that?
Critics might recall the period less than a year ago when Inzaghi faced severe pressure at Inter, with a dip in Serie A performance stirring calls from some quarters for his dismissal. Yet, CEO Beppe Marotta reaffirmed the club’s unwavering support for Inzaghi, highlighting his resilience in navigating the team through a challenging phase post-2021. That year, the departures of Antonio Conte, Achraf Hakimi, and Romelu Lukaku, alongside Christian Eriksen’s health scare and Lukaku’s unexpected transfer request to Chelsea, plunged the club into uncertainty. Conte’s exit was particularly jarring, prompted by the forced sale of Hakimi due to the financial strain on Inter’s owners, the Suning Group, from the pandemic.
Facing a daunting task, Inzaghi, who had planned to center his strategy around Lukaku, found his vision compromised. Inter’s vice-president, Javier Zanetti, tempered expectations for a “difficult and complicated” season ahead. Despite these challenges, Inzaghi’s leadership not only stabilized but also excelled, defying the adversity to exceed expectations.
Failing to clinch the Scudetto was a bitter pill for Inter to swallow, especially after winning eight of their final nine league matches. Their dreams were dashed by a crucial loss to Bologna, marred by a costly goalkeeping blunder from Ionuț Radu. However, under Inzaghi’s guidance, the Nerazzurri rebounded triumphantly, securing Coppa Italia glory and progressing to the Champions League’s last 16 for the first time in a decade.
Their European journey in the previous season surpassed expectations, with Inzaghi outmaneuvering Xavi twice as Inter secured four points against Barcelona, effectively ending the Catalans’ Champions League aspirations. Despite domestic challenges, Inzaghi’s continental prowess remained evident post-winter break. Inter dispatched Porto and Benfica before claiming victories over Milan in both legs, setting up a titanic clash against Manchester City in the Champions League final.
Remarkably, Inter’s unfortunate 1-0 defeat in Istanbul stands as Inzaghi’s sole loss in a final since his tenure began. He boasts an impeccable record, having clinched victory in both Coppa Italia finals and all three consecutive Supercoppa Italia showdowns since his arrival at San Siro.
Moreover, that solitary defeat seems to have not only cemented his position with the club but also enhanced his standing among the players. Indeed, the performance displayed by Inter has only bolstered their confidence in their coach and what Lautaro Martinez has described as “his football philosophy”.
“We press aggressively, enabling us to regain possession swiftly, create scoring opportunities, and keep the opposition on the back foot,” the striker remarked to Sky Sport Italia.
Under Inzaghi’s stewardship, Martinez has elevated his game to new heights, currently showcasing the best form of his career. And he’s not alone. Francesco Acerbi has justified Inzaghi’s decision to recruit the experienced defender from Lazio, Federico Dimarco has blossomed into one of the premier wing-backs in global football, and Hakan Calhanoglu has excelled in his role as a deep-lying playmaker.
All three attribute their excellent form to the coach. “It’s his communication with the players and his demeanor towards us,” Calhanoglu explained. “He’s always hungry for victory and becomes frustrated when we let up. However, after training, he reveals his compassionate side. He remains calm, and we can discuss anything with him.”
Marotta, on the other hand, attests that Inter has never been as self-assured since his own arrival at the club, crediting Inzaghi for inspiring everyone around him by weathering last season’s criticism and pressure to cultivate a “winning mentality” that has propelled Inter nine points clear of Juventus atop Serie A, with a game in hand over the Bianconeri.
“You can see the coach’s influence in our diligent training sessions every day,” Martinez noted. “We’ve been performing well under his guidance for nearly three years now, continuously improving. We’re demonstrating that we belong at this level.”
And they deserve more recognition as well. Simeone certainly won’t underestimate Inzaghi’s Inter ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League clash, and no one else should either.