MIAMI:Simone Inzaghi said he gave his all to Inter Milan before taking over at Al-Hilal earlier this month after the Saudi club’s CEO told the BBC the move had been agreed before Inter’s 5-0 loss to Paris St. Germain in the Champions League final.
Inzaghi won a Serie A title, two Coppa Italias and three Italian Super Cups during his four years at Inter but could not deliver the Champions League title and left the club just days after their humiliating defeat by PSG in Munich.
“It might look like it’s something that came quickly, but it’s the result of hard work,” Al-Hilal CEO Esteve Calzada said.
“He was playing a massive match and asked (us) to keep things aside until after the final, it was decided but not signed before the final, just because out of respect he asked us to wait, which is certainly fair enough.”
The comments prompted Italian media to question whether the Inter squad knew about the move ahead of the final and if it had any impact on their performance.
Inzaghi, speaking ahead of Al-Hilal’s first game at the Club World Cup against Real Madrid on Wednesday, said there could be no questions about his commitment to Inter during his time there.
“Today I heard — or heard about — all sorts of things, as has often happened during the four years I was at Inter,” the Italian told a press conference.
“If this was the price to pay for my four years at Inter, I’ll gladly pay it. But it’s nothing compared to the good I received from the entire Inter world — I mean the fans, the management, the players, everyone at Inter.
“I know I’ll miss it — I’ll miss everything, even this — even the most unfair accusations that were made over these four years.
“But I was truly happy. I gave my all.”
Inter President Beppe Barotta did not want to be drawn into the controversy but said no individual was bigger than his club.
“I don’t chase after rumors, denials, or other people’s behavior — everyone knows what they’ve done,” he said before Inter’s Club World Cup game against Monterrey on Tuesday.
“A cycle has ended and we thank Simone Inzaghi for all he’s given us, but now there’s a new cycle to open and focus on. Inter’s story moves forward and doesn’t depend on individuals. ”
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Inzaghi downplays Al-Hilal agreement timeline, says he gave everything to Inter
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Inzaghi downplays Al-Hilal agreement timeline, says he gave everything to Inter
- “It might look like it’s something that came quickly, but it’s the result of hard work,” Al-Hilal CEO Esteve Calzada said
Sunderland earn 1-0 win over Newcastle thanks to Woltemade own goal
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Woltemade scores own goal to give Sunderland win
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Sunderland remain unbeaten at home this season
SUNDERLAND: Sunderland secured a 1-0 victory over Newcastle United thanks to Nick Woltemade’s unfortunate own goal on Sunday which settled the derby in dramatic fashion as the fierce North-East rivals met in the Premier League for the first time in nearly a decade.
Woltemade’s header a minute into the second half proved decisive as fans who marked their calendars after Sunderland’s promotion were treated to an entertaining game that lived up to its billing as one of English football’s fiercest clashes.
Woltemade’s mistake marked just the second Premier League own goal in the Wear-Tyne derby, extending Sunderland’s unbeaten run against their rivals to 10 Premier League games.
Sunderland remain unbeaten at home this season and the win lifted Regis Le Bris’s side to seventh on 26 points, two points off the top four. Newcastle slipped to 12th on 22.
“Derbies are here to win, it doesn’t matter how. I know how painful it was ... losing here,” Sunderland captain Granit Xhaka told Sky Sports, referring to their 3-0 defeat by Newcastle in the FA Cup third round in January 2024.
“They (the fans) motivate us, because of this, much more than before. This team deserves much more than this respect because where we are is amazing. We work very hard and deserve to be where we are.”
FRANTIC FIRST HALF
A lively but scrappy first half failed to produce shots of note, though neither team shirked from physical challenges during 45 frantic minutes.
The half was marred by an injury to Newcastle defender Dan Burn, who took a knee to the chest from Sunderland’s Nordi Mukiele while sliding in for a clearance.
The towering Englishman returned to the field after treatment but signalled to come off less than five minutes later, clearly in pain. The club later said Burn had been taken to hospital.
With barely any goalmouth action in the first half, Sunderland broke the deadlock a minute into the second when Woltemade attempted to clear a cross into the box but headed the ball into his own net as the Stadium of Light erupted.
SUNDERLAND ENERGISED
The goal energised Sunderland and they pressed high as Newcastle were pegged back into their own box under sustained pressure, desperately making clearances to catch their breath.
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe had seen enough and made a triple substitution around the hour mark to bring on Harvey Barnes, Jacob Murphy and Joe Willock but Sunderland continued to pile on the pressure.
Sunderland’s top scorer Wilson Isidor, also introduced in the second half, gave the home side their first shot on target when he chested down a long ball and acrobatically fired an effort that was palmed away by Aaron Ramsdale.
Sunderland fans gave Woltemade a standing ovation when the Newcastle striker was substituted but soon after they had a heart-in-mouth moment when his replacement Yoane Wissa nearly got on the end of a deflected cross.
Tempers flared in added time when Sunderland keeper Robin Roefs bravely went up to catch the ball and fell heavily on his back when Willock attempted to challenge him, causing both teams to square up as the referee produced four yellow cards.
But when the final whistle blew, it was Sunderland who sealed all three points in their first Premier League meeting with Newcastle since 2016.
“I don’t think it was our finest game. I think the endeavour and the effort was there, but the quality was missing today,” Howe said.
“A game of really few chances for both teams. It was decided on a bit of a freak goal from our perspective that we didn’t defend well enough.”
Woltemade scores own goal to give Sunderland win
*
Sunderland remain unbeaten at home this season
SUNDERLAND: Sunderland secured a 1-0 victory over Newcastle United thanks to Nick Woltemade’s unfortunate own goal on Sunday which settled the derby in dramatic fashion as the fierce North-East rivals met in the Premier League for the first time in nearly a decade.
Woltemade’s header a minute into the second half proved decisive as fans who marked their calendars after Sunderland’s promotion were treated to an entertaining game that lived up to its billing as one of English football’s fiercest clashes.
Woltemade’s mistake marked just the second Premier League own goal in the Wear-Tyne derby, extending Sunderland’s unbeaten run against their rivals to 10 Premier League games.
Sunderland remain unbeaten at home this season and the win lifted Regis Le Bris’s side to seventh on 26 points, two points off the top four. Newcastle slipped to 12th on 22.
“Derbies are here to win, it doesn’t matter how. I know how painful it was ... losing here,” Sunderland captain Granit Xhaka told Sky Sports, referring to their 3-0 defeat by Newcastle in the FA Cup third round in January 2024.
“They (the fans) motivate us, because of this, much more than before. This team deserves much more than this respect because where we are is amazing. We work very hard and deserve to be where we are.”
FRANTIC FIRST HALF
A lively but scrappy first half failed to produce shots of note, though neither team shirked from physical challenges during 45 frantic minutes.
The half was marred by an injury to Newcastle defender Dan Burn, who took a knee to the chest from Sunderland’s Nordi Mukiele while sliding in for a clearance.
The towering Englishman returned to the field after treatment but signalled to come off less than five minutes later, clearly in pain. The club later said Burn had been taken to hospital.
With barely any goalmouth action in the first half, Sunderland broke the deadlock a minute into the second when Woltemade attempted to clear a cross into the box but headed the ball into his own net as the Stadium of Light erupted.
SUNDERLAND ENERGISED
The goal energised Sunderland and they pressed high as Newcastle were pegged back into their own box under sustained pressure, desperately making clearances to catch their breath.
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe had seen enough and made a triple substitution around the hour mark to bring on Harvey Barnes, Jacob Murphy and Joe Willock but Sunderland continued to pile on the pressure.
Sunderland’s top scorer Wilson Isidor, also introduced in the second half, gave the home side their first shot on target when he chested down a long ball and acrobatically fired an effort that was palmed away by Aaron Ramsdale.
Sunderland fans gave Woltemade a standing ovation when the Newcastle striker was substituted but soon after they had a heart-in-mouth moment when his replacement Yoane Wissa nearly got on the end of a deflected cross.
Tempers flared in added time when Sunderland keeper Robin Roefs bravely went up to catch the ball and fell heavily on his back when Willock attempted to challenge him, causing both teams to square up as the referee produced four yellow cards.
But when the final whistle blew, it was Sunderland who sealed all three points in their first Premier League meeting with Newcastle since 2016.
“I don’t think it was our finest game. I think the endeavour and the effort was there, but the quality was missing today,” Howe said.
“A game of really few chances for both teams. It was decided on a bit of a freak goal from our perspective that we didn’t defend well enough.”
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