Inzaghi lost more than he won, but Inter should be grateful

epa12148236 Inter head coach Simone Inzaghi looks disappointed after receiving the runner-up medals of the UEFA Coppa Campioni final between Paris Saint-Germain and Internazionale Milano in Munich, Germany 31 May 2025. EPA-EFE/FILIP SINGER

Simone Inzaghi has left Inter after winning six trophies in four years, and even if he should have achieved even more, especially in Serie A, the Nerazzurri should be grateful, writes Lorenzo Bettoni.

Inzaghi left Italy this morning, ready to start a new chapter of his life at Al-Hilal, who will make him one of the highest-paid coaches in the world with a €25m-a-year contract and a signing bonus of at least €4m.

There have been, obviously, plenty of reactions to Inzaghi’s Inter farewell, and Gazzetta was perhaps among the harshest on the ex-Nerazzurri boss.

The pink paper’s editor, Stefano Barigelli, said Inter gave more to Inzaghi than the other way around. Another comment from Sebastiano Vernazza was even harsher, as he highlighted all the trophies Inzaghi failed to win at San Siro.

It’s not just about the two Coppa Campioni Finals the Nerazzurri lost during his tenure. It’s more about the Serie A titles won by Napoli (twice) and Milan during Inzaghi’s stay at Inter.

Forget about the latest humiliation at the hands of PSG. It’s undeniable that Inzaghi has wasted some good opportunities to fill Inter’s trophy cabinet with more Serie A titles, especially in 2022 and this season.

Three years ago, Stefano Pioli’s Milan lifted the Scudetto with 86 points. This time around, Antonio Conte’s Napoli triumphed with even less, 83.

Inzaghi has proved to be an excellent tactician, but perhaps not a great motivator. Nevertheless, leaving the club with six trophies in four years is still a commendable achievement. Three of those trophies were Supercoppa Italiana, but one was a historic Scudetto, the 20th for the club, won with five games to spare in a derby against Milan.

Equally importantly, Inter’s playing style has been improving over the years despite a transfer budget inferior to many of their direct rivals.

Don’t forget that Inzaghi took over from Antonio Conte in 2021, accepting the coaching role despite the sales of Achraf Hakimi and Romelu Lukaku.

Inter were navigating a financial crisis that had been very much alive until last year, when Oaktree ultimately took control from Suning. Despite the storm, Inzaghi managed to develop the team’s playing style and secure a decent number of trophies.

Has he lost more than he won? Maybe. Does this mean his spell at Inter was not positive? Absolutely not.

Inter were considered one of the best clubs in Europe this season, so seeing them reach the Coppa Campioni Final was not entirely surprising.

However, fulfilling the same accomplishment two years ago was not only unexpected, but it also left plenty of regrets after a narrow defeat against the best team in Europe at that time, Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.

The way Inzaghi left, announcing his decision with a quick meeting three days after the Coppa Campioni Final humiliation, surely left a bitter taste in the mouths of Inter fans and some media, but this should not cancel the fact that he was the best coach the Nerazzurri could have had over the last four years.

The timing was also not ideal, as Inter are now in a difficult position, given that the best coaches have already secured their seats for next season and their primary candidate, Cesc Fabregas, seems unwilling to leave Como.

Besides the six trophies, Inzaghi developed the team and helped many of its players reach their peak, especially Marcus Thuram, Lautaro Martínez, Hakan Çalhanoğlu, and Federico Dimarco.

The Demone di Piacenza won fewer trophies than he was supposed to, but Inter gained value on and off the pitch thanks to their former coach, and for this reason, the fans and the club should always be grateful.

@lorebetto