Ex Inter Milan Defender Argues: ‘Inzaghi Deserves Great Credit, But Conte Changed Inter’ | OneFootball

Aleksandro Kolarov feels Simone Inzaghi deserves credit for his work at Inter Milan, but Antonio Conte laid the foundations.

The Serb talked about the current and former Nerazzurri coach in a press conference at his presentation as Serbia Under-19 head coach, as reported by FCInterNews.

Kolarov spent two seasons as an Inter player.

The Serbian international was already in the late stages of his career at that point. He’d had successful spells with the likes of Lazio, Manchester City, and Roma.

But in 2020, Kolarov joined Inter from the Giallorossi.

The versatile defender brought a certain veteran presence to the Nerazzurri. However, he also struggled with injuries, eventually hanging up his boots.

But Kolarov was still an important figure behind the scenes with Inter.

Kolarov played under two coaches at Inter. It was Antonio Conte who signed him, and with whom he won the Serie A title for the first and only time in his career.

And then Simone Inzaghi arrived. Kolarov was at Inter for Inzaghi’s first campaign in charge, although he departed before the team would really spread their wings under the 48-year-old.

Kolarov: “Inzaghi Deserves Great Credit, But Conte Changed Inter”

Of Inzaghi, Kolarov noted that “Simone had already been my teammate at Lazio from 2007 to 2010.”

“He was crazy about football. He watched and understood everything – he was already studying to be a coach.”

“And then I reunited with him during my last season at Inter,” Kolarov noted. “Having just arrived, he was still finding his feet.”

“In recent seasons he’s grown a lot,” Kolarov said of Inzaghi during his time at Inter coach.

“That’s evidenced not just by the Champions League final he reached and the Scudetto he won. But also by the maturity and identity that he has.”

“Today, Inter is very much his,” Kolarov said of Inzaghi. “Even in Europe.”

“There are top players and a deep squad, of course. But Inzaghi puts a lot into preparing for matches, and does well to allow the players to express themselves freely within his tactical plan.”

Kolarov argued that “Simone found a clear tactical plan” at Inter. “But he was able to add to it.”

The Serb said that “Antonio Conte turned Inter inside out like a sock.”

“He changed the mentality, professionalism, attitude towards work.”

“He raised the bar a lot,” Kolarov said of the current Napoli coach’s two seasons at Inter.

“You can still see his in-depth work today,” he argued. “No one is like him at rebuilding teams.”

“His attention to detail. His ability to identify opponents’ weak points.”

Kolarov also described Conte as “direct and loyal in relationships.”

“You always know what he thinks of you,” the former defender said.