Al-Hilal face Man City in the Club World Cup on Monday night and Simone Inzaghi is looking forward to coming up against the 'best coach' in the world
Simeone Inzaghi and Pep Guardiola shake hands before Inter's Champions League clash with Manchester City this season
Simeone Inzaghi and Pep Guardiola shake hands before Inter's Champions League clash with Manchester City this season
Al-Hilal head coach Simone Inzaghi has expressed his admiration for Pep Guardiola, deeming him the pinnacle of the managerial world as they gear up for their upcoming Club World Cup clash – despite believing his side should've clinched victory in the 2023 Champions League final.
Inzaghi, who was at the helm at Inter Milan when Guardiola's Manchester City triumphed in Istanbul two years ago, completing a memorable treble, is set to face Guardiola once more.
The two managers last met in a 0-0 draw at the Etihad Stadium last September and, after Inzaghi's recent move to the Saudi club, he's now gearing up for his next meeting with Guardiola
With Al-Hilal ready to take on City in Orlando's Camping World Stadium late Monday night, striving for a spot in the Club World Cup quarter-finals (2am Tuesday UK), the Italian has hailed Guardiola, saying: "I believe every coach that starts to train considers Guardiola an inspiration.
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"I believe there was football before and there will be after Guardiola, but he developed a new philosophy of football and a new way of playing."
"I believe he is the best coach over the last 20-25 years and is a great example for us as a coach."
However, when reflecting on his last two games against City, Inzaghi claimed his Inter Milan side were unlucky not to win the 2023 Champions League final.
He added: "Last year was a great game with both teams who deserved a goal, but then there was the final game in Istanbul when maybe Inter deserved more and we were not so lucky as Man City won.
"They are a great team and we are going to try to put in a performance against a world-class group."
Inzaghi confirmed that team captain Salem Al-Dawsari, who scored the winning goal for Saudi Arabia in their surprise defeat of eventual champions Argentina at the 2022 World Cup, and former Fulham and Newcastle striker Aleksandar Mitrovic will be absent from the game due to injuries.