Rome (AFP)

"Ancelotti has more experience than me for sure": Simone Inzaghi expects a hell of a baptism of fire for her Champions League debut with Inter Milan, Wednesday at San Siro (9:00 p.m. / 7:00 p.m. GMT ), against his compatriot with three coronations in C1, returned to Real Madrid.

The CV of Carlo Ancelotti (62 years old) is enough to leave dreamers - and worried - the two other (young) Italian coaches of group D: Roberto De Zerbi (42 years old), arrived at Shakhtar Donetsk, and Simone Inzaghi (45 years), the first to compete against the monument.

"He is one of the most successful coaches in history, a very great coach with whom I enjoyed talking when I happened to see some training sessions from my brother (Filippo Inzaghi, AC striker Milan when Ancelotti worked there or when we met when he was in Naples ", underlines Simone Inzaghi.

"He gives a good organization to his teams. We will have to make a perfect match," added the one whose experience in C1 is limited to the eight matches played last season with Lazio Rome.

But the young coach has ambition.

It takes to succeed Antonio Conte, who has just brought Inter to the top in Italy.

- In the footsteps of Conte -

Eden Hazard, Belgian striker of Real Madrid, against Celta Vigo in Serie A at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium on September 12, 2021 in Madrid GABRIEL BOUYS AFP / Archives

So far, the landing is going well.

He revived the team on the basis of last season, despite the departures of arrows Romelu Lukaku and Achraf Hakimi, sold to replenish the crates.

In a system similar to that of Conte (with Edin Dzeko responsible for forgetting "Big Rom" in a more technical register), he collected seven points in three Serie A matches.

For the debut in C1, where Inter broke their teeth in the group stage over the past three seasons, the support of tifosi nerazzurri will not be too much to try to lose his legendary calm to Carlo Ancelotti, who made shine the rival Milanese club for eight years (2001-2009), including two coronations in C1.

Since his departure, Ancelotti has returned to San Siro five times to face Milan or Inter (with Napoli and Chelsea) but has never regained there.

Returning to the scene of his greatest successes is never the assurance of another victory: despite his glorious past at Real (2013-15, with a third C1 victory in 2014 during a golden season), this Returning to the "White House" is indeed not easy either for Ancelotti after the good years Zinédine Zidane.

What prompted Madrid officials to repeat the experience was the appreciated personality of the transalpine coach, the one who coached the "Décima", the 10th European Cup won by the club.

Inter Milan coach Simone Inzaghi during the Serie A match against Hellas Verona at Marcantonio Bentegodi stadium on August 27, 2021 in Verona MIGUEL MEDINA AFP / Archives

- Balances to rebuild -

Known for his good nature, "Carletto" started out on good terms and still places people at the center of his method.

He manages to create a serene environment conducive to work.

A trait that contrasts with the letter of departure from Zinédine Zidane, where the French technician deplored the leaks and permanent criticism.

Ancelotti found his bearings in Madrid but left a largely modified team, with balances to rebuild: emergence of young Brazilians Vinicius and Rodrygo, management of the Eden Hazard case (expensive recruit still in search of his full performance), integration of David Alaba and Eduardo Camavinga, and defensive upheaval after the departures of Sergio Ramos and Raphaël Varane ...

Not what to scare the native of Emilia-Romagna (a point in common with Simone Inzaghi), passed by the biggest European clubs (Chelsea, Paris SG, Bayern Munich ...).

"Carlo Ancelotti is not the same as six years ago," said "Carletto" during his presentation, speaking of him in the third person.

"I have the same feelings as when I first arrived. But there, I have more certainties, more confidence."

Edin Dzeko, the Bosnian striker of Inter Milan, after scoring in Serie A against Genoa at San Siro on August 21, 2021 in Milan MIGUEL MEDINA AFP / Archives

Six years later, the program remains the same: to be spectacular, to score goals (Real have already scored 13 in four La Liga games) and, of course, to win another Champions League, to become the first coach of the story to raise four.

© 2021 AFP