Inter Milan manager Simone Inzaghi has shared his thoughts on AC Milan’s recent coaching change, expressing sympathy for the departed Paulo Fonseca while anticipating the challenge of facing new appointee Sergio Conceição.
Speaking to Sport Mediaset on the eve of the Italian Super Cup semifinal in Riyadh, Inzaghi reflected on the volatile nature of football management:
“Unfortunately, we coaches are always subject to judgments. I feel sorry for Fonseca because he is an excellent coach and a great person. He didn’t have great consistency in the league, but he did very well in the Champions League and the Italian Cup.”
Inzaghi praised Fonseca’s qualities despite the lack of consistent results in Serie A that led to his dismissal. The Inter boss highlighted Fonseca’s achievements in European competition and domestic cup play during his brief tenure at Milan.
Turning his attention to Milan’s new coach, Inzaghi spoke warmly of his former Lazio teammate Conceição:
“Conceição played with me, and it will be a pleasure to meet him and challenge him again, as has happened in the past.”
The two managers have previously faced each other in competitive matches, most notably when Inzaghi’s Inter eliminated Conceição’s Porto in the 2023 Champions League round of 16.
Inzaghi and Fonseca were familiar rivals during their time in Rome, having faced each other in the capital derby between Lazio and Roma from 2019 to 2021. Their head-to-head record was evenly balanced, with one win each and two draws. Fonseca gained the upper hand in their most recent encounter, leading Milan to victory in this season’s first derby with goals from Pulisic, Dimarco, and Gabbia.
