Destined to always be overlooked and under-rated, Susy Campanale wonders when people will finally give Inter coach Simone Inzaghi his dues?
What exactly does Simone Inzaghi need to do in order to get some respect? He over-achieved massively with a Lazio squad that had a limited budget, winning the Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana. He took over from Antonio Conte’s counter-attacking specialists over-reliant on Romelu Lukaku and Marcelo Brozovic, challenging for the Scudetto to the final day, lifting the Coppa Italia and Supercoppa by beating Juventus twice, going beyond the Champions League group stage after a decade. Still he received no recognition for it and was criticised so much this term that he appeared to be on the verge of the sack only a month ago. Inter are in the top four in Serie A. They are in the Coppa Italia Final yet again. They are in the Champions League Final for the first time since Jose Mourinho’s Treble-winning side in 2010.
As a player, Simone was always in the shadow of big brother Pippo Inzaghi, but it seems that even as a coach he is overlooked and under-rated. He might not have won a Scudetto yet, but he has gone very close with a squad that was constructed on the cheap. Some seem to think the Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana don’t count as silverware, a rather odd attitude to take when Inter for many years had meagre results in all their tournaments.
His man-management and approach to training have been impeccable, as while other squads struggle with injuries and poor form, his Inter are reaching the key stages of the season in excellent form with only Milan Skriniar out of action. Nobody has made greater use of the five substitutions than Inzaghi, rotating with wisdom and keeping everyone involved, in form and rested just enough. His tendency to always change the wingbacks and one of the strikers allows them to attack with intensity throughout the match.
Let us also not forget that Inzaghi and Beppe Marotta were able to build a squad on a relatively small budget with loans and free agents proving essential. Edin Dzeko and Henrikh Mkhitaryan scored in the first leg, both signed for nothing from Roma, while Francesco Acerbi has been a rock in that defence on loan from Lazio. Inter are constructed with two players for every role, whereas in the last four derbies it has become painfully apparent that Milan have nothing behind their starting XI.
When Inter did go through that dismal period of form, it was not a tactical issue at all. They always created the chances, it was just that Lukaku and Lautaro Martinez were missing open goals. He kept reassuring them and looking at their form now, it’s likely this was because they were doing extra fitness work to be sharp for the final stages of the season.
I find it so strange that some Inter fans are still pining for Conte when Inzaghi gets the same job done for half the price – and a quarter of the salary. What more do they want from him?
At the same time, it is equally mad that some Milan supporters are calling for Stefano Pioli to be replaced. They were never expected to win the Scudetto or reach the Champions League semi-final, but they did. The problem this summer was picking the wrong reinforcements, providing no strength in depth, especially for a squad that is so injury-prone. It can be rectified for another push next season, the important thing now is to secure a top four finish and the Juventus points penalty could well make that easier for them.
Twitter: @SusyCampanale