Latest news with #SimeoneInzaghi
Daily Mail
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Al-Hilal star Sergej Milinkovic-Savic demands respect be shown to Saudi Pro League after stunning Club World Cup win over Man City - and urges detractors to 'criticise us now'
Al-Hilal midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic hopes his side's progress in the Club World Cup will change the perception of the Saudi Pro League in Europe. The Serbian was one of the high-profile names to swap elite football on the continent for the riches of the Saudi top flight, which received a substantial cash injection from the nations' Public Investment Fund in 2023. During his eight-year stay in Rome with Serie A giants Lazio, Milinkovic-Savic attracted the attention of several top European clubs and as a result, his move to Al-Hilal was seen as emblematic of the shifting priorities of some of the sport's biggest stars. But following Al-Hilal's 4-3 win over Manchester City in the round of 16 of the Club World Cup - and their unbeaten campaign, which has included clashes against Real Madrid and RB Slazburg, as a whole - there has begun to be a reappraisal of the quality of football being played in the Gulf State. Milinkovic-Savic, who starred in the 120-minute Florida clash, hit back at detractors of Saudi football, taunting naysayers with a request to criticise after their stunning upset. 'Let's see now if they will criticise us after these games,' said Milinkovic-Savic. 'We showed them that they're [wrong], the way the speak about the league. 'We showed against Real Madrid, Salzburg, Pachuca, we showed tonight and I hope that we will continue to show that it's not like this.' Al-Hilal boss Simeone Inzaghi made an even more stunning switch this summer, with him opting to depart Champions League finallists Inter Milan for the Riyadh-based outfit ahead of the Club World Cup. 'The key of this result are the players, the heart they put on the pitch,' said the Italian. 'Tonight we had to do something extraordinary because we knew how good Manchester City are, we knew we had to climb Mount Everest without oxygen, and we were great. '[Pep] Guardiola is the best coach in the world, but tonight we did our best and we deserved the result.' Meanwhile, City skipper Bernardo Silva admitted that the pain of crashing out of the Club World Cup is similar to exiting the Champions League. City twice came from behind but were finally vanquished by a scruffy goal from Marcos Leonardo after 112 minutes. 'It does feel a little bit like going out of the Champions League, yeah,' he admitted. 'No one wanted to lose, we are very used to not having holidays unfortunately because the schedule is crazy. But when we are in a competition we take it very seriously and we had a lot of ambition for this Club World Cup and we wanted to win it.'
Indian Express
30-05-2025
- Sport
- Indian Express
Resolute Inter Milan vs postmodern, vibrant PSG: How the Champions League final is a clash of footballing ideologies
It is often said that the clubs must suffer before they claim the Champions League, the most capricious club tournament in Europe. Both PSG and Inter Milan have suffered this decade, losing a final apiece. One, though, would put their heartbreaks to an end, while the other would return devastated after the final at Allianz Arena in Munich on Saturday night. This much is certain: the final of varied and subtle layers would break the duopoly of Spanish and English clubs in the last decade. Between the two powerhouses, they have shared 10 trophies in the last eleven episodes. The night could potentially signify the rise of the French bloc in European club football. For their riveting success in international football, the last time a French club was crowned European champions was as far back as 1993, when Marseille beat AC Milan. Similarly, Inter Milan lifting the trophy with cauliflower ears could be a kiss of life for Italian football, its glory long departed, its storied clubs tussling with bankruptcies and insolvencies and helplessly watching the talent drain. In the first 18 years of the Champions League era, Italian clubs featured in nine finals, winning five times. In the 14 since, they have only reached the final thrice, losing all. But beyond the grand tropes of the triumph's impact on Europe, it's a clash of ideologies. Not the old narrative arc of Italian pragmatism and French artistry, there are artists and artisans on both sides but a contrast in the way both perceive the game. The team embodies different values and worlds. The Italians are largely a chip off the old block. They operate with a front two, a classical poacher and a goal-scoring creator, an anomaly in modern football; a three-man defence, adept at the lost concept of man marker, is the soul of the side; a deep-lying playmaker forged in the fine Italian tradition pulls the midfield strings. Yet, they have adopted the Pep Guardiola-like ploy of centre-backs moving upfront in possession, with a pair of midfielders temporarily dropping back. They press aggressively too, but in spells. But more arresting than their strategies in the near hassle-free march to the final, scalping Barcelona and Bayern Munich en route, has been their mentality, their unflinching resolve to slam the door shut on the opponents' faces. In the entire campaign, they have been behind their adversaries for a total of 16 minutes, making them arguably the most dominant side in the tournament. They are an ageing squad too, Simeone Inzaghi has named the four oldest line-ups this season. For the second leg against Bayern, they had an average age of 31.1 and no starter under 26. Contrastingly, PSG bumped and jerked in their journey to the knockout phase, once a nudge away from the exit door, as is expected of a young and vibrant side. Once into the knockouts, they transformed into a flawless machine, each unit perfectly in sync. They are as postmodern as post-modern football could be, blessed with players of high technical ability, twinkling feet and quick wits, a delightful amalgam of individual dazzle and collective efficiency, functioning in a 4-3-3. They have been one of the youngest sides in Europe, averaging 25 a game. But the old legs have enough gas and fire to defeat youth, as their game against Barcelona illustrated. When pushed to the extreme limits, they always find their way back. The setbacks in Italy, losing the scudetto by a whisker and the Coppa Italia, would further fuel their desire to sign off with the most prized trophy. For some of their ageing veterans (Acerbi is 37, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Yann Sommer 36, Matteo Darmian 35) this could be their last Champions League dance. For PSG, this could be the beginning, an era without the baggage of the past years of vanity, without the burden of football glitterati and giant egos, and a leap into the future. Luis Enrique's regimented brigade has tactically outmanoeuvred all other sides in the knockouts, but Inter poses the stiffest test, because they are unlike most other sides they have encountered so far. Enrique would not change his set-up dramatically, even though he would be aware of Inter's ploy of exploiting the high line with explosive bursts of pace. But his front-three would not always be sitting high up the pitch, they would occasionally drop deep and invite the press, so that their explosive wingmen and fullbacks could catch Inter off-guard with their pace and trickery. The trident of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue could pose the biggest threat to Inter's well-worn back three, which at time morphs into a five-man defence with wingbacks too joining. But the key to suffocating them would be to contain their midfield triangle of Vitinha, Fabian Ruiz and Joao Neves, who keep interchanging their positions, confusing their opposite numbers. Neves offers energy, Vitinha control and creativity and Ruiz's imposing physical presence. All three are extremely composed on the ball in pressure situations, are rarely dispossessed and have telepathic communication. The battle for midfield could define the game, even though finals tend to be cagey and frigid affairs decided by a lone mistake or misjudgment. The Inter midfield – Nicholas Barella, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, and the exemplary Hakan Çalhanoğlu – is both intelligent and energetic with tremendous positional discipline, making the exchanges with their Parisian counterparts an engrossing tactical subplot. But as distinct as they are tactically and ideologically, they are unified by years of suffering. One of them would liberate themselves from the clutches of the haunting past. For the other, the theme of suffering would recur.
Daily Mirror
20-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Inter rocked as Inzaghi receives 'monster offer' before Champions League final
Simeone Inzaghi has received a 'monster offer' to leave his job as Inter Milan boss, with the Italian side heading into a crucial week. Inter remain in with a chance of winning the Serie A title ahead of Friday's deciding day. Then a week on Saturday, they travel to Munich to take on Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final. It will be Inter's second European Cup final in three years, having been beaten by Manchester City in Istanbul in 2023. Inzaghi has developed a reputation for being one of Europe's best managers in his four years at the San Siro. Inter take on Como on Friday night at the same time leaders Napoli host Cagliari. If Napoli lose or draw and Inter win, then Inzaghi's side will lift their second successive title. His success at the Italian giants, returning them to their former standing in Europe, has attracted the interest of several other clubs. And as he prepares for the biggest week of Inter's season, the Italian has been offered a deal that would see him leave the San Siro. It is a deal that may well be hard for him to turn down. According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal have made Inzaghi their top target after sacking Jorge Jesus. Hilal are keen to appoint a new manager in time for the Club World Cup, where they aim to go deep into the tournament. The club's ambitious president is said to want Inzaghi 'at all costs' with Hilal stepping up their interest after initial talks in April. It is claimed that Inzaghi's representatives will be making a trip to Saudi in the coming days. Hilal are said to have put a 'monster offer' on the table and are encouraging Inzaghi to fly out the day after the Champions League final to sign it. His current deal with Inter runs until 2026, but Hilal are ready to offer him a salary of more than £16.5m a year. The Saudi side believe they have done enough to convince Inzaghi to sign, though Inter still hope he will ink a new deal with them. For now Inzaghi is trying to keep his side focused on the task at hand. Inzaghi is confident his side have what it takes to beat Les Parisiens, despite their massive advantage in wealth. Inter have already beaten Bayern Munich and Barcelona in their run to the final, with their manager insisting they can do it again. "We'll be up against a team who have more resources than we do," said Inzaghi. "But we've already shown against Bayern, Barcelona, City, and Arsenal that when we use our weapons and show heart we can compete with anyone. "The job's not done. I can talk about the path that I've taken. I thank the guys and the club for what they've given me. But the job's not done and it will take heart, soul, and organization. "I was with my parents the morning after Barcelona. The best message I received was from my brother. Two other coaches I won't name realized Inter had done something great. I'll identify them on June 1st."
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Inter Milan vs Barcelona – Predicted lineup and team news
Inter Milan face Barcelona in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final tonight. A thrilling first meeting ended all square in Catalonia, with Inter twice leading in an eventual 3-3 draw. The Italian champions are aiming to reach a second Champions League final in three seasons, after defeat to Manchester City in the 2023 decider. Simeone Inzaghi's side's performance a week ago has lifted Inter after a dip in form. The Nerazzurri beat Verona 1-0 at the weekend to retain their push for the Serie A title. Historic moments, unforgettable memories 🔊#ForzaInter #UCL #InterBarcelona — Inter ⭐⭐ (@Inter_en) May 5, 2025 Barcelona have lost just once in all competitions in 2025. The Spanish side are chasing a treble, with the Catalans claiming Copa del Rey success last weekend. Hansi Flick's side are also four points clear at the top of La Liga. Lautaro Martinez has returned to training ahead of the game and is in contention for involvement, in a huge boost to Inter. The Argentina international, who has scored 21 goals this season, picked up a hamstring issue in the first leg. Simeone Inzaghi rotated his team at the weekend and the likes of Nicolo Barella, Alessando Bastonie, Marcus Thuram and Denzel Dumfries should all return. Elsewhere, Benjamin Pavard is also back in training and Hakan Calhanoglu is available again after missing the weekend win over Verona through suspension. Inter predicted XI: Sommer; Bisseck, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Arnautovic, Thuram. Inter Milan host Barcelona in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final on Tuesday 6th May 2025. Kick-off at the San Siro is 20:00 BST. Viewers in the UK can watch the game on TNT Sports 1. Read – See more – | | | |
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Inter Milan XI vs Bayern – Predicted lineup and team news
Inter Milan XI vs Bayern – Predicted lineup and team news Inter Milan make the trip to Germany to face Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals tonight. Simeone Inzaghi has talked up his team's chances of a treble, as Inter pursue the Serie A title, Coppa Italia and Champions League this season. It's been 15 years since Inter completed a historic treble-winning season under Jose Mourinho and it was Bayern Munich the club conquered in the Champions League final that year. However, the current version of Bayern are unbeaten in 22 home games in the Champions League. The German giants are also into the Champions League quarter-finals for the 23rd time, a competition record. Inter Milan XI vs Bayern Munich – Predicted lineup and team news Inter team news Alessandro Bastoni is set to shake off the knee issue that forced the defender off at half-time against Parma at the weekend. Advertisement There's less positive news on Denzel Dumfries, however, whose thigh injury is set to rule the Dutch defender out. Piotr Zielinski and Mehdi Taremi are also unavailable for Inter, while Kristjan Asllani will sit out the clash through suspension. Ex-Bayern man Benjamin Pavard will be hoping to earn a recall to the starting side. Inter Milan predicted lineup Inter Milan predicted XI: Sommer; Pavard; Acerbi, Bastoni; Darmian, Calhanoglu, Frattesi, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Thuram, Martinez. When is Bayern Munich vs Inter Milan? Bayern Munich host Inter Milan in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday April 8th 2025. Kick-off in Germany is 20:00 BST. What TV channel is Bayern Munich vs Inter Milan? Bayern Munich v Inter Milan will be available to watch live in the UK on TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports Ultimate. Advertisement Read – Noughties Nines: Diego Milito – Il Principe See more – Remembering Mourinho's Inter side that beat Bayern in the 2010 UCL final Follow The Football Faithful on Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | TikTok
