Palermo, Inzaghi: “I want to be the Gasperini of the Rosanero” | OneFootball

Filippo Inzaghi talks about his challenge with Palermo: between enthusiasm, ambitions, and a dream called Serie A. “Everything is here to stay for a long time. I want to be Palermo’s Gasperini.”

Palermo, Inzaghi: “I’d like to become the rosanero Gasp. My Champions League is here”

Wherever Filippo Inzaghi goes, enthusiasm follows. It’s been that way everywhere he’s coached — from Benevento to Reggio Calabria — and the same is happening now in Palermo, where the coach is firmly aiming for promotion to Serie A, which would be the fourth of his career.

“Yes, I asked myself why I’m so enthusiastic,” he tells La Gazzetta dello Sport, “and I admit it: I’m really betting on this. I want my players to understand that everything starts with a person’s credibility, beyond the results. Here, if you fight and battle, 30,000 people come to support you.”

“In Palermo there’s everything: passion, identity, and a million fans”

Inzaghi has found an ideal environment for his emotional, vertical football. “I know the South well; I know that people here live for football. In Palermo there are a million fans, and I feel their warmth every day.”

The coach has chosen to live in the city center to soak up the fans’ passion. “I like being among the people. In tough moments, their enthusiasm recharges me. It’ll happen here too—hopefully just a few times…”

The comparison with City and the dream of staying long-term

The affiliation between Palermo and Manchester City is a constant stimulus for the coach: “I have weekly discussions with City, an exchange of ideas and methods. It’s very stimulating. Guardiola? What struck me was when he said that, despite a difficult season, he was never called into question. That gives you strength.”

Palermo’s coach dreams of stability: “I hope to be up to the task, to stay for a long time, and become Palermo’s Gasperini. Everything is here: passion, structure, and perspective.”

“It’s not the biggest spenders who win, but those with a soul”

Palermo are among the favorites for promotion, but Inzaghi warns: “We’re favorites, but it’s not the ones who spend the most who win, it’s the ones with a soul. Last year we were a young group; today we have more maturity and awareness.”

He has words of praise for his players: “I’ve found a great work culture. I’ve played everyone, even those who start further back in the pecking order, and they’ve understood that team spirit is essential. When I see guys like Peda, Vasic, or Corona sacrificing themselves for the team, I know we’re on the right path.”

On Brunori and Pohjanpalo: “I keep them switched on”

Inzaghi defends his captain Matteo Brunori, even if he’s not always a starter: “Two of his goals were disallowed, but he’s doing well. He knows I have to make tough choices, but he’s a real captain. When he doesn’t play, he still drives the team. If someone sits out and doesn’t get upset, they shouldn’t be in this business.”

And on Joel Pohjanpalo, the other top striker: “He’s a tremendous player; I certainly don’t need to be the one to discover him. He gives everything in training; he’s an example for everyone. He confessed he hated me for those goals against Liverpool, but I’ll make it up to him by playing him all the time.”

“My Champions League is in Palermo, not in the Premier League or in Arabia”

Despite having direct contact with the City Group’s international network, Inzaghi makes it clear: “My Premier League is Palermo. My Champions League is here. I want to keep having fun; I have a wonderful family, and I’m gratified by what I’m building.”

And he jokes about the possibility of following his brother Simone to Arabia: “No, come on, enough moving house!”

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.