The father of Simone Inzaghi has admitted that the Inter head coach still harbours a bitter feeling after AC Milan won the Scudetto in the 2021-22 season.
Milan ended up lifting the Scudetto after ending the season in very strong fashion, winning their last six games of the campaign to take advantage of Inter’s slip-up in their game in hand against Bologna to eventually lift a 19th league title.
For some fans and sections of the media the narrative has been that the Nerazzurri gave the title away rather than the Rossoneri earning it, but Stefano Pioli’s side conceded just two goals in the last 11 league games of the season which meant they emerged as the deserved winners in the end.
Simone’s (and Pippo’s) father Giancarlo Inzaghi spoke to La Gazzetta dello Sport about his son’s achievements as a manager, as well as the things he perhaps holds onto and feels some regret about.
“Simone has changed. He is more thoughtful, focused on the club’s objectives, always attentive to every aspect of work. Before he was more light-hearted, he joked more easily. Of course football was always first, along with family, but he seemed more relaxed,” he said (via Radio Rossonera).
“Now Simone has learned to live with the pressures that characterise big teams, but this also means dealing 360 degrees with everything the players may need. He lives with Inter in mind. There are character nuances that only we parents can grasp.
“Every day that passes, he feels more and more like an Inter fan, he has a very strong bond with the fans. And he is happy to deal daily with managers as well prepared as the Nerazzurri’s. His first thought is to help the club grow, not just the team.”
What about the criticism that came last season?
“Those are things that concern them. During the period of criticism I sometimes saw Simone wearing a mask: it would have been easier to vent and respond, but he remained silent. He favoured work, convinced that the results would prove him right.
“And he has always been polite and respectful of everyone, even those who exaggerated their criticisms. His behavior made me proud. I would have responded to certain mean things, but he always tells me to stay calm.”
Does he have any regrets, like the Champions League football?
“Simone would like to always win, everything. But I’ll tell you this. After the Champions League final, he was obviously disappointed because Inter came really close to achieving the feat. But he was also calm because the team had done everything possible by playing very well.
“But he said to me: ‘Gianca, remember that I always have a lump in my chest’. And the reference was to the previous season’s Scudetto. So winning the league and giving the club its second star is certainly a great goal.”
No-one cares…
absolutely no-one. not filippo