Inter Milan coach Simone Inzaghi feels that Diego Simeone was a great teammate when the pair were at Lazio together.
The Nerazzurri coach spoke to Italian broadcaster Sky Sport Italia, via FCInterNews, ahead of his team’s Champions League showdown with Simeone’s Atletico Madrid tomorrow.
Tomorrow evening, Inzaghi and Simeone will come face to face as opponents.
The two coaches come into tomorrow’s match with reputations as being among Europe’s top coaches.
But both Inzaghi and Simeone had distinguished careers well before they began coaching.
The Inter coach had been an accomplished striker for nearly two decades. He spent the bulk of his career at Lazio, where he won the Serie A title as a player and also began his coaching career.
Meanwhile, Simeone enjoyed memorable spells in both Spain and Italy.
The Argentine former midfielder player for the likes of Sevilla and his current club Atletico in La Liga. And in Serie A, he in fact enjoyed a spell as an Inter player.
After leaving the Nerazzurri, Simeone linked up with Simeone for four years as part of the Biancocelesti squad that won the Serie A title under Sven-Goran Eriksson.
Simone Inzaghi Praises Diego Simeone As Teammate At Lazio
Inzaghi said that “We have respect for all the teams we face.”
“Last season we enjoyed some fantastic evenings. And we aim to repeat them again this season.”
“We know that tomorrow we face a top, in-form opponent.”
“They have both quantity and quality,” the Inter coach said of Atletico.
“And a great coach who had also been a great teammate of mine.”
Inzaghi anticipated that “It will be a tricky match.”
“I don’t think Atletico need any introduction,” the Nerazzurri boss continued.
“They have a great coach. He’s been there since 2011, and has won a lot.”
“They’re playing excellent football,” Inzaghi said.
“They play with a lot more of the ball than in the past,” he added. “We need to be ready for them, and we’re prepared.”
