Simone Inzaghi has expressed his great excitement at taking on his first managerial role outside Italy. Read the coach’s interview in full below.

How do you see your first experience outside Italy?

First of all, I am very happy to try this new experience. My desire had always been to be able to go and coach abroad, as well as in Italy, and for me Al Hilal is a great opportunity in my career. Al Hilal is a club that I know because I follow Arab football; we have been to play here in Saudi Arabia many times, with both Lazio and Internazionale, so it is a championship that I have followed. I have always followed Al Hilal with big sympathy because they have Sergej Milinkovic, he's a player I also coached in Lazio, and I'm happy to have found him here at the club.

How did you see the development in Saudi Football?

Football in Saudi Arabia is evolving more and more, there are many teams like Al Hilal, Al Nassr and Al Ittihad, so many football teams are evolving. It is always improving through the foreign players and coaches they acquire, who add more quality to the teams with the local players who are growing more and more.

What are your initial thoughts about Al-Hilal?

Of course I have followed the history of Al Hilal Club. This helps me to have this new experience outside Italy, because I coached Lazio and Internazionale, so I have the desire to learn about new cultures and this experience in Saudi Arabia is a great privilege. But as for the initial thoughts about Al Hilal history, I saw millions and millions of fans who always filled the stands of the stadiums, I also saw the match in the Champions League in Jeddah the stadium was full of Al Hilal fans.

What are your goals with Al-Hilal? My goals are to try to win as much as possible, to win trophies, because it is the most important thing, and then I hope to apply my way of playing and make the team play in the best way at football. My prospects are to stay a long time to win titles, to win the second star when I win the league for the twentieth time as an important goal.

What style of play can Al Hilal fans expect to see from your team?

I will definitely apply my tactics, we will be a team that have all the necessary potentials: speed, aggression, and determination for winning games as many as possible.

Are you excited to link up with Sergej Savic again, from your Lazio days?

Yes, I met Milinkovic-Savic, for me he will be a strong addition, but besides being a top player he is a very good man. I will be happy to coach him again.

How do you see your first experience outside Italy?

What type of player will succeed in your team? All the players have the opportunity to succeed, the player who puts all of his energy on the field, he will be a key factor to win games.

Do you have a final message for Internazionale fans?

I said it when I left, I have great memories with them, they treated me with the best way during the four years I worked in Internazionale, there is a great relationship with them. Now our paths have separated, but there will always be a great and mutual respect and love.

What are your thoughts on the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup, and the first match against Real Madrid?

I think the FIFA Club World Cup is a prestigious competition. I clearly will have to know the team in the best way, but there is great passion for everyone to take part in this important competition. It will certainly be a great challenge when we meet [Real Madrid]. I met Real Madrid in the Champions League with Internazionale, also I met Xabi Alonso when he coached Bayer Leverkusen, so we will face a big club and we will try to do our best.

And a final message to Al Hilal fans?

Thank you very much for this interview, and see you soon in Riyadh.