Chivu Address Inter’s Shortcomings After Derby Defeat to Milan
Cristian Chivu, head coach of FC Internazionale, expressed disappointment following his team’s early exit in the Derby della Madonnina against AC Milan. Chivu revealed that a flu bug sweeping through the squad forced him into making unusual choices for his starting lineup, leading to a lackluster performance in a match the team had hoped to win.
Despite the disruption, Inter managed to score, with Alessandro Bastoni netting from a Hakan Calhanoglu corner. However, the team found themselves trailing 2-0 within the first ten minutes due to goals from Christian Pulisic and Adrien Rabiot. Diego Moreira provided two assists prior to the final score line of 3-1, which remained unchanged after halftime, despite Inter’s attempts to control possession.
“It hurts to lose a derby where both we and everyone else had different expectations, for what the game represents and what we need to defend,” Chivu shared with Sky Sport Italia. “Today we had to improvise considering the situations we had to deal with, which emerged in the last couple of days.”
Chivu acknowledged that his team had the wrong mindset and noted that missing the opportunity to equalize with a shot saved by Milan’s goalkeeper Mike Maignan hurt even more. He emphasized the need for improvement in their approach and determination as they prepare for their next match in three days.
Inter’s head coach faced questions regarding his tactical decisions, particularly after making surprising changes to the starting XI. Chivu opted for a 3-4-2-1 formation, bringing in Petar Sucic and Andy Diouf to support Marcus Thuram up front, despite the absence of injured captain Lautaro Martinez.
“The flu bug was sweeping through the squad,” Chivu explained. “We had to change because Pio Esposito has not been well and Bonny had a fever, so we had to improvise.” Although Chivu believed the initial formation was the best option, he admitted that the team’s sluggishness defensively cost them.
This defeat marked Inter’s first loss of the Serie A season and raised concerns about their ability to keep pace with rivals, such as Lazio, who host Cagliari on Sunday. Chivu acknowledged the challenge his players face in maintaining the same intensity and determination after last season’s success, stressing the importance of rediscovering their competitive spirit and focus.
