Inter boss Simone Inzaghi reveals admiration for Diego Simeone ahead of clash

Inter Milan supervisor Simone Inzaghi has spoken of his admiration for Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone forward of their maiden assembly as coaches.

The duo shared a dressing room at Lazio and helped the Rome membership win Serie A in 2000 throughout a trophy-laden period underneath Sven-Goran Eriksson.

Tuesday will see the pair do battle within the dugout as Inter host Atletico within the first leg of a Champions League last-16 tie on the San Siro.

Diego Simeone returns to Inter and the San Siro #UCL pic.twitter.com/m9Nury23oT

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) February 19, 2024

“Will probably be a pleasure to see him once more,” Inzaghi instructed a press convention.

“He was an incredible team-mate. Then he went again to Spain, however we all the time stored in contact.

“I’ve all the time identified he would turn into an incredible coach. He’s been 13 years with the identical membership and he has received lots.

“I understand how troublesome it’s to stick with the identical membership for therefore a few years. He had nice outcomes with Atletico. He has nice charisma however that’s not it, his workforce play nice soccer.”

Simeone has historically been related to pragmatic, defensive soccer throughout his profitable interval in Madrid and whereas Atletico have misplaced floor within the LaLiga title race in current weeks, they’re within the final 4 of the Copa del Rey.

Inzaghi revealed he had intently analysed Atletico’s final 4 fixtures, which features a 5-0 thrashing of Las Palmas, defeats to Sevilla and Athletic Bilbao and a draw at Actual Madrid, however is aware of will probably be laborious to foretell what sort of fixture will happen on Tuesday evening.

He added: “Every coach has their very own strategy. I recognize him lots.

“I watched Atletico this yr and I can solely say they play nice soccer however I can’t inform you what sort of sport will probably be tomorrow as a result of each groups will combat for it.

“Atletico have modified model, they had been very aggressive within the final sport they performed however in opposition to Actual Madrid they’d a unique angle. They cross the ball much more than earlier than.

“We’ll do our greatest tomorrow. There shall be an incredible ambiance, we’re wanting ahead to taking part in this sport and as traditional taking part in our sort of soccer.”

Inter enter this fixture in a wealthy vein of type and having received all eight matches in 2024.

Current league successes over Roma and Juventus have helped open up a nine-point benefit on the Serie A summit, however Inzaghi doesn’t really feel that can affect their Champions League marketing campaign.

Inzaghi’s workforce had been runners-up to Manchester Metropolis final season and have already secured silverware this time period with Tremendous Cup success final month.

“Having this benefit doesn’t actually give us an additional benefit within the Champions League,” Inzaghi stated.

“We now have skilled magic nights along with our supporters and we would like a repeat however we all know that different golf equipment have the identical ambitions as Inter.

“I noticed Atletico within the final 4 video games and they’re all the time robust. We’ll do our greatest tomorrow.”

Francesco Acerbi, Stefan Sensi and Juan Cuadrado are unavailable for Inter.