Former midfielder Marco Parolo, who played under Simone Inzaghi for five seasons at Lazio, has shared his insights on the Inter Milan manager’s passionate approach. Parolo experienced a sense of déjà vu when he saw Inzaghi sprint down the touchline to embrace his players after Arnautovic’s goal against Fiorentina.
“I’ve seen him do that so many times at Lazio. That’s how he experiences matches,” Parolo remarked. He described Inzaghi’s demeanour during Monday’s game as “frenzied,” noting, “He had the fierce eyes of someone who wanted to win at all costs, electric in his gestures. But that was the secret of Inter’s success.”
Parolo believes this intensity is how Inzaghi motivates his team. “When you see him like that, in a total trance, lost in the game, you have to give something back. Even unconsciously,” he explained. He recalled a specific instance from a Lazio-Juventus match in November 2020, where Inzaghi’s instinctive decision led to a last-minute equalizer.
Addressing Inzaghi’s recent complaints about excessive criticism following the defeat at Fiorentina, Parolo acknowledged the difference between managing Lazio and Inter. “At Inter, praise lasts a day, criticism a week. Or even longer,” he said. “He’s used to it now. At first, he struggled a bit more because it takes so little to come under attack, but now Inzaghi knows how to handle the pressure.”
Parolo expects an entertaining tactical battle between Inzaghi and Antonio Conte in the coming weeks. “They’ll needle each other. 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,” he stated.
When asked about similarities between Inzaghi and Conte, Parolo highlighted their differences: “I don’t think there are any. They have a totally different way of experiencing situations and matches. Conte is a thinker, Inzaghi is instinctive.”
