'Calm' Inzaghi inspiring Inter Milan players to great heights

BeSoccer 11 months ago 377

Inzaghis man management skills have inspired his players says Calhanoglu. AFP

Inter Milan sitting atop the Serie A table is due in large part to coach Simone Inzaghi who has "a big heart" and has superb man management skills said playmaker Hakan Calhanoglu.

The Turkish star will be at the heart of matters when Inter entertain struggling Verona on Saturday with the Milan club seeking to maintain their two point lead over Juventus. Inzaghi will hope his older brother Filippo can help Inter and cause a mighty shock as his Salernitana side, who are bottom of the table, host Juventus on Sunday. In hardly the best of omens, Salernitana were thrashed 6-1 by Juventus on Thursday in the Italian Cup.

Whatever Juventus do, though, is of little interest to Calhanoglu. "I don't look at them, I only look at Inter and I don't even listen," said the 29-year-old, who joined Inter in 2021 on a free transfer from their bitter city rivals AC Milan. Calhanoglu's confidence in Inzaghi - who joined at the same time as he did - is exemplified by him turning down a lucrative move to a Saudi club and signing a contract extension instead.

Inzaghi's personal qualities have sparked a positive response from the players. Two successive Italian Cup trophies and a surprise run to last season's Champions League final - losing 1-0 to Manchester City - are testament to the 47-year-old's skills at motivating the personnel.