Former hero Jaap Stam has claimed Simone Inzaghi’s Lazio ‘can win the Scudetto’ and revealed why he picked Milan over Inter and Juventus.
The former centre-half picked up the Coppa Italia during his stint with the Biancocelesti coming from a highly successful stint at Manchester United in the Premier League.
The Dutch 47-year-old has been impressed by Simone Inzaghi, but was not surprised to see Lazio sit second, one point behind Juventus, before the forced break.
Former hero Jaap Stam has claimed Simone Inzaghi’s Lazio ‘can win the Scudetto’ and revealed why he picked Milan over Inter and Juventus.
The former centre-half picked up the Coppa Italia during his stint with the Biancocelesti coming from a highly successful stint at Manchester United in the Premier League.
The Dutch 47-year-old has been impressed by Simone Inzaghi, but was not surprised to see Lazio sit second, one point behind Juventus, before the forced break.
“It doesn’t surprise me. They have been working well for years and can win the Scudetto,” he told the Gazzetta dello Sport. “Inzaghi, however, has impressed me. Everybody performs under him, in every position.
“He’s a tactician with great play and character. If the team are doing well, it’s thanks to him.”
Roberto Mancini led the Biancocelesti to a triumph in the Coppa Italia in 2003-04 and Stam has claimed Italy are safe with him at the helm.
“Roberto was young, but he understood us,” he said. “We all followed him. Now, he has a young national team of great quality. It’s a shame the European Championship was postponed, but Italy are safe with him.”
After three seasons at the Olimpico, Stam moved to Milan on a €10.5m transfer, but revealed that he picked the Rossoneri over two other giants in Serie A.
“Juve and Inter wanted me, but I chose the Rossoneri without thinking twice about it,” he said. “I grew up with [Marco] van Basten, [Ruud] Gullit and [Frank] Rijkaard, I couldn’t refuse the offer.”