In the second part of his interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, Paul Ince said that he’d never left Inter if he were Romelu Lukaku and insists Antonio Conte needs new signings to improve his teams.
The 54-year-old previewed tomorrow’s Champions League clash between his ex clubs Inter and Liverpool and discussed the Nerazzurri’s recent achievements under Antonio Conte. The Italian tactician won the Serie A title last term before leaving the Stadio Meazza by mutual consent.
Ince explains why Inzaghi is similar to Klopp and Inter’s ‘problem’ against Liverpool
“I was surprised [to see him leave],” Ince admitted, “but Conte needs new signings to develop his teams and he has the chance to be satisfied in England.”
Romelu Lukaku played a key role in the Nerazzurri’s title-winning campaign last term, but the Belgium international returned to Chelsea in a €115m deal in the summer.
“I had never left Inter if I were him,” said Ince.
“Everbody loved him in Milan and Inter were the perfect team for him. Now it’s much harder at Chelsea.”
Inter are one point behind Milan in Serie A but have a game in hand. Therefore, they’d jump to the top of the table by beating Bologna in a match that was rescheduled after the Rossoblu had been ordered into quarantine because of a COVID outbreak in their team in January.
Ince left Inter after just two seasons at the Stadio Meazza, joining Liverpool in 1997. Why did he leave the Nerazzurri?
“I spent the most beautiful years of my career in Milan, and I only left because of family reasons,” he admitted.
“I am still sad about it. I remember the bicycle-kick goal against Cagliari and Moratti, who would have kept me at all costs.
“I had an amazing relationship with my teammates, Paganin, Winter, Zanetti…However, the thing that I miss the most is the rapport with fans. I remember that after a victory in a derby, I hang around the city and felt like a king.”
Parla Paul #Ince: "L'Inter è un sentimento, ma contro il Liverpool è dura. A Inzaghi serve una difesa perfetta" #InterLiverpool https://t.co/raOnHrf81s
— La Gazzetta dello Sport (@Gazzetta_it) February 14, 2022