🎥 Inzaghi shines vs Real: new tactics, passion, shouts and hugs 🫂
Simone Inzaghi's debut on the bench of Al-Hilal was anything but anonymous.
Against Real Madrid, on the prestigious stage of the Club World Cup, the Italian coach ended the match on a 1-1 draw, immediately showing character, game ideas, and that temperament that has always distinguished his career on the bench.
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A performance that also had a protagonist off the field: himself, immortalized by the "Inzaghi-cam", the Saudi version of the famous "Demon Cam" seen in Inter's time.
Inzaghi's first: prestigious draw against Real
A match that immediately offered emotions. At the 17th minute, Real Madrid took the lead with Gonzalo Garcia, but Al-Hilal responded shortly after thanks to a penalty won by Marcos Leonardo and coolly converted by Ruben Neves.
Both goals came in the first half, but it was the attitude of the Saudi team - compact, organized, reactive - that surprised the most. Credit to Inzaghi's work, who managed to imprint a clear identity on his new team in just a few days.
Communication and leadership: the Italian who unites
One of the most curious aspects of the evening was the communicative approach of the coach from Piacenza. Having just arrived in Arabia, Inzaghi wasted no time and used Italian to give instructions to his men, then relying on body language, mimicry and - in crucial moments - the interpreter.
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Phrases like "We need to run back if we lose the ball" were clearly intercepted by the microphones at the edge of the field, a sign of a constant and visceral presence.
With players like Koulibaly and Cancelo - both with experience in Serie A - the message was effectively passed, becoming the link between Inzaghi and the rest of the group. An integration still in its early stages, but promising.
The Inzaghi-cam: show on the bench
However, the scene was stolen by DAZN's "Inzaghi-cam", with constant shots of the coach on the bench: furious gestures, shouts, chases to the edge of the technical area.
Simone Inzaghi was caught offside several times, especially in the end when Al-Hilal had to defend with their backs to the wall from the last assaults of Real Madrid.
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Emblematic was the moment when he hugged the fourth official from behind, begging for the final whistle after Bono's penalty save on Valverde.
New formation, same ideas
If the context is different, the style remains faithful to its roots. Inzaghi debuted with a 4-2-3-1 - a novelty compared to the usual 3-5-2 - but still maintained recognizable traits: building from the back, looking for quick exchanges in tight spaces and fast transitions.
Milinkovic-Savic and Ruben Neves provided balance in midfield, while Marcos Leonardo was a constant thorn in the side for the Madrid defense.
In the second half, due to changes and the drop in rhythm, Al-Hilal relied more on defensive solidity, closing spaces well and limiting Real's chances. The penalty saved by Bono was the cherry on top of a performance that bodes well for the future.
A new adventure, same passion
Simone Inzaghi's debut at Al-Hilal did not disappoint expectations: not only for the result, but for the energy transmitted to the team.
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The Saudi public immediately got a taste of his style, between intensity and heart, between strategy and instinct. And if this is just the beginning, the "Demon Cam" will have many more pages to write.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.
📸 Megan Briggs - 2025 Getty Images
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