Tonali explains with Inzaghi’s Inter reminds him of ‘my Milan under Pioli’

Sandro Tonali has stated that the current Inter side under Simone Inzaghi remind him of how AC Milan were under Stefano Pioli.

There did seem to be a real family atmosphere in and around the squad during Milan’s conquest of te 2021-22 league title, a season in which the team perhaps overcame the odds and performed above the sum of their parts.

Those days are long gone now though, with the Rossoneri now languishing down in ninth place in the table and nine points off the top four. Inter are in a league title fight, as well as the Champions League quarter-finals and with a Coppa Italia semi-final to come.

Meanwhile, Tonali headed off for a new experience at Newcastle United and Pioli left the club at the end of last season, with both Paulo Fonseca and Sergio Conceicao failing to get close to the levels he reached.

Tonali spoke to Cronache di Spogliatoio ahead of the Coppa Italia derby between the two Milanese clubs, which will take place over two legs. Calciomercato.com have relayed his comments.

What was it like under Pioli?

“Inter today reminds me of my Milan under Pioli. In addition to being good on the pitch, he has always been very good at creating the group: he built it.

“When you find players who never play, but who love coming to the pitch and who celebrate on the bench for a 2-0 goal even though they know they won’t come on, it’s not a given.”