Ex-Lazio midfielder on Inzaghi’s ‘biggest quality’ and Inter’s ‘secret’ vs Fiorentina | OneFootball

Former Lazio midfielder Marco Parolo said that Simone Inzaghi oozed ‘electricity’ with his behaviour on the touchline in Inter’s home meeting against Fiorentina, insisting it was the ‘secret’ that gave the Nerazzurri a motivational boost to secure a win in a crucial match.

Having worked under Inzaghi for five seasons as a Biancocelesti player, Parolo still remembers his former coach’s ability to pass ‘strength’ to his players, an attitude that the Italian tactician clearly showed on Monday, as he urged his side to bounce back from a bad defeat against the same opponents just a few days earlier.

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – JANUARY 06: Simone Inzaghi, Head Coach of FC Internazionale, reacts during the Italian Super Cup Final between FC Internazionale and AC Milan at Kingdom Arena on January 06, 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Abdullah Ahmed/Getty Images)

Parolo: Inzaghi transmits ‘strength’ to Inter, his duel with Conte will be ‘fun’

“[He was ] Like a madman,” Parolo told La Gazzetta dello Sport in an interview.

“He had the poisoned eyes of someone who wanted to win at all costs, electric in his movements. But he was the secret of Inter.

“When you see him like that, in a total trance, lost in the game, you have to give him something back. Even unconsciously.

“Yesterday, despite the two incidents from both sides, if there was a team that deserved to win, it was Inter. Inzaghi transmitted strength with his electricity, he did the same with us.

“Lazio-Juve 1-1, November 2020, Caicedo’s last-minute goal. The coach took Marusic by the shoulders and turned his back on him to make him take the throw-in forward.

“From that play came the equaliser, and then another run to the sidelines. It wasn’t even the most logical choice, but his instinct was crucial. That’s his biggest quality.”

Speaking with the press after Inter’s victory over Fiorentina, Inzaghi highlighted that he had been the one under fire following his side’s defeat at the Stadio Artemio Franchi. However, Parolo suggests that was just an ‘outburst,’ as he believes the 48-year-old has learned ‘how to manage pressure’.

“That was an outburst,” the ex-midfielder continued.

“In black and blue, praise lasts a day, criticism a week. Sometimes even longer. He’s gotten used to it by now.

“At first, he suffered a bit more because, in the end, it takes just one small thing and you’re under attack, but now Inzaghi knows how to manage the pressure.

MILAN, ITALY – NOVEMBER 10: Simone Inzaghi, Head Coach of FC Internazionale, reacts during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Napoli at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on November 10, 2024 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

“He’s been questioned multiple times. More than once, when people talked about him, they added a ‘yeah, but…’, ‘yeah, but he didn’t do this…’. Then he did it. Now he knows he has to do even better.”

The Nerazzurri are tipped by many to be involved in a tight title race with Antonio Conte’s Napoli, a duel that the former Italy international expects to be ‘fun’, as he also played for the former Chelsea boss in the Azzurri shirt.

“It will be fun, they’ll tease each other,” he observed.

“Now Simone has entered this long-distance challenge with him. Conte is Conte, we know him, but Inzaghi knows he can compete and wants to prove it.

“Also because Antonio is someone who has lost very few league titles in his career. He’s a specialist.”

Recalling his experience with both managers, Parolo don’t find any similarities between the two.

“I don’t think so,” he added.

“They have completely different ways of living situations and games. Conte is a thinker, Inzaghi is an instinctive one.

“It would be nice to place a camera just on them during a game. Imagine what could come out. It would be fantastic.“Neres’ injury will affect Conte’s plans, while Inter’s attackers are more tired. However, recovering Acerbi has been crucial.”