Luigi Simoni hails Rafael Benitez' innovation
Former Inter Milan coach Luigi Simoni has backed the club's new manager, Rafael Benitez, to leave a stronger mark on the club than his predecessor, Jose Mourinho.
After Mourinho's departure to Real Madrid was announced this summer, Benitez joined Inter from Liverpool to take over the post.
Since the Spaniard's arrival, it has been widely held that he will struggle to repeat Mourinho's successes for the Italian club. The Portuguese won three titles — the Serie A, Coppa Italia and the Champions League — during his last season with the club.
With five games played, Benitez' team is top of the league table with ten points, and optimism is building around the club. Simoni, who won the UEFA Cup for Inter in 1998, has now come to the defence of Benitez.
“Benitez is an excellent Coach, he is a nice guy and I respect him a great deal. When the rumors started of Mourinho leaving, I immediately hoped Inter would sign Benitez. The Spaniard has fine technique and is a good man, so in that sense he has the advantage
over the Portuguese Coach."
Mourinho employed his trademark, which was carefully executed tactic, while at Inter, playing a counter-attacking game that has long been popular in Italian football.
While he shares Mourinho's tactical awareness, Benitez has been known to use a 4–2–3-1 formation since his spell at Valencia from 2001 to 2004. According to Simoni, Benitez' system will, contrary to Mourinho's tactics, introduce some unfamiliar ideas to
the Serie A.
“Mourinho gave nothing new to Italian football. He played the counter-attacking game and I agree with that, as I’ve always said it is the most effective system. However, Mourinho introduced absolutely nothing new in terms of tactics or technique.”
Inter host Werder Bremen in the Champions League on Wednesday. The defending champions drew FC Twente 2–2 in the first round of the competition.
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