Milan's visionary leader: Inzaghi in quotes
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
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"Born for football" or "born offside", Filippo Inzaghi dazzled and confounded as a player; UEFA.com selects the most fascinating things peers have said about the new AC Milan boss.
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Not blessed with the technique of Lionel Messi or the physical power of Cristiano Ronaldo, Filippo Inzaghi was still one of the most feared strikers of his age.
Known for his insatiable hunger for goals, the forward scored 126 in 300 games in all competitions during his 11-season spell with AC Milan, in which he won the UEFA Champions League and the Scudetto twice. At 40, Inzaghi now hopes to have similar success as coach after being promoted from the youth academy to the Rossoneri first-team bench. UEFA.com's selection of quotes throw light on the 'Super Pippo' legend.
"Inzaghi used to get videos of opponents and study them for days on end. He knew everything about them. He was obsessed. Many thought Pippo was just lucky, but it was nothing to do with luck – it was all down to skill and preparation. He used to get so angry with the wingers if they didn't send in the right crosses in training."
Former Milan and Italy team-mate Gennaro Gattuso has always been a great admirer of Inzaghi's professional approach
"He could do very well as coach because he has great enthusiasm – he really loves football. He always wanted to play and whenever I left him on the bench he was angry with me for days. We could not talk to each other for days, like two strangers."
Inzaghi's former coach at Milan, Carlo Ancelotti, on his love-hate relationship with the forward
"He just eats pasta or rice with a bit of tomato sauce when he really wants to give himself a treat. Then air-cured beef every day. And baby rusks for dessert. When I really want to make him happy I bring him an egg from his grandmother's hens."
Inzaghi's father Giancarlo on his son's strict diet; Gattuso said: "It made me sick to watch him eat the same things for 30 years"
"It's not Inzaghi who is in love with goals; it's the goals that are in love with him. He was born for football and could also do well as a coach. I have told him the difficult part starts now, but he knows that already."
His former coach at Atalanta BC, Emiliano Mondonico, on Inzaghi's predatory instincts
"That lad must have been born offside."
Sir Alex Ferguson on Inzaghi's famous ability to spring the offside trap and score goals