Porto head coach Sergio Conceicao feels a lot of sympathy for his opposite number Simone Inzaghi, who he feels has received some unfair criticism.
Speaking to Italian broadcaster SportMediaset, via FCInterNews, Conceiaco praised the Nerazzurri coach ahead of tomorrow evening’s Champions League round of sixteen second leg meeting between the two teams.
Conceicao and Inzaghi, who had been teammates on the pitch at Lazio during their playing days, are now meeting as coaches in a massively important two-legged Champions League knockout tie.
Both of the pair have given the impression of strong mutual respect throughout.
For his part, Conceicao has seen some of the criticism that his opposite number in the Inter dugout has received in recent weeks.
The Porto coach feels that this isn’t really fair, as he feels that Inzaghi has more than proven his quality throughout his career even if things haven’t been going his way recently.
Asked if he expects Inter’s shock loss to Spezia last Friday to affect them as they face Porto, Conceicao replied that “Each match is different, I’m sure that the loss in La Spezia is not hanging in the minds of their players and staff.”
“Inzaghi has experience and is doing a great job,” he continued.
“I don’t like to see criticism of coaches,” the Porto coach continued, “he’s already proven himself by doing a great job at Lazio and now at Inter.”
“They haven’t been at their best recently, but Inter are a strong team with a clear identity and character, and a top coach,” Conceicao stressed.
