Cristian Chivu urged Inter to look ahead after their Supercoppa Italiana campaign ended in Riyadh, with Bologna progressing to the final after a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw.
Speaking to Sport Mediaset after full-time, the Inter coach focused first on the shootout itself, framing it as an uncontrollable element of the game.
“Penalties are a lottery,” Chivu said, with quotes via FCInterNews.
“For me, it’s enough to see the courage to raise your hand and say you’re ready to take one. It’s something you can’t really train, it’s an emotion that’s difficult to manage.”
Despite the outcome, he praised his players’ response, adding that he takes “the personality of these champions, who played a great match, especially in the second half,” highlighting that they showed “things I always want to see in my team.”
Chivu Defends Selection Choices After Inter Exit Supercoppa At Hands Of Bologna
Asked about controversial moments and visible tension on the bench, Chivu refused to be drawn into refereeing debates.
“I don’t talk about referees,” he stated.
“They have VAR and can review things. I look at the group and focus on how we can improve. In good times and bad, we always move forward with our heads held high. Mistakes can happen everywhere, and I have nothing to complain about.”
Chivu identified Bologna’s reaction after scoring as the biggest challenge. “Right after their goal, their pressure caused us problems,” he explained.
“We struggled to find a way out. In the second half, though, we took control, played more in their half and created some situations. But in football, if you don’t score, you end up with penalties, and that’s a lottery.”
The decision to leave Lautaro Martinez on the bench was also addressed directly. “I’m not thinking about the final or the next match,” Chivu said.
“It was our eighth game in 20 days, and he needed rest too. January will bring many important matches and you need players at 100 per cent. We don’t want to lose anyone along the way.”
He added that the same logic applied to players like Akanji and Calhanoglu.
Indeed stressing that “the schedule is demanding and the group has to be managed.”
Finally, Chivu defended his faith in squad rotation.
“I have 25 players who deserve to play, who need opportunities and trust,” he concluded. “The team has big ambitions, but the season is long and you always need everyone.”
Chivu On How The Game Was Lost, Praises Bologna Intensity
Chivu then spoke to Inter TV, where he revealed more of his thoughts in the immediate aftermath of the game.
“We started well and then suffered Bologna’s intensity. Which put us in trouble. Then we couldn’t find the right moves. We came back and created something at the end of the first half, and in the second half we showed quality, intensity and aggression. We tried until the end, but then penalties were a lottery and we lost.”
He did not appear too disheartened, encouraging his side to “get back up with the knowledge of who you are”, adding that “the boys have always shown that they can bounce back.”
see mister, the season is just starting when you finally face the tight schedules with so many important matches going in sequence. add it with injuries, dramas, controversies inside and outside fields. this is the real challenge that you must face, and you know what, your team should have already known the heavy burdens, they already have had the winning mentality before. it is on you now, would they trust you enough to share the burdens and evoke their ‘sleeping beauty’ hunger, or will they push you out because there is not enough trust.
Bony literally passed to the keeper. There’s no defending that kind of behaviour. The team that won was the one that wanted to win more than the other despite a big gap in skill and experience
Also the issue in the first half was simple other than playing with 10 men (Henrique). I think Thuram wasn’t proactive enough in the first half he only started to press with intent in the second half. In the first half he was playing as if Inter don’t need to score so there’s no urgency. Compared to Pio who was running and pressing from the first minute during his last match. At least Bony was constantly moving forward trying to beat the offside trap or receiving the ball with his back. Thuram in the first half was the same annoying Thuram who couldn’t care less about the team and only gives 10% when it’s convenient. Lautaro however initiate the press and others follows. Chivu style relies heavily on aggressive press but if someone lazy plays at the top then opponents just bypass Inter and create problems
This is so true. Lautaro might be missing a lot of chances but in terms of aggression and pressing he is definitely setting an example.
Thuram must be told off and ask to start work for the team like in the beginning of the season
That penalty shootout was beyond shameful. Like it was mentality of a loser Bastoni, Barella and especially Bony. Missing a penalty after putting some effort is ok but not when a player just stands back behind the ball and shoot. Even if it was taken by all defenders a penalty must have some level of commitment unless you’re Messi for any other player trying something stupid and failing is just disgusting and lack of respect to the club and fans
The penalty was suck, indeed.
But it is far from loser mentality or lack of commitment. Just because they don’t score a penalty doesn’t mean they don’t respect fans and the club. If you said that, then that also means you don’t respect them as a player.
Bastoni is a left-footed defender. Just don’t expect him to put the shot on the corner like F. Grosso.
Barella, well, he has shot power skills, yet accuracy-wise, he is like Guarin.
Bonny is still raw. Too young. He wanted to fake his shot but failed. He is still young, though. He will learn from that. Even Lautaro doesn’t score much penalties at that age.
I don’t see commitment problems with them. As Chivu said, it is just a lottery. Bologna’s GK is one of top rated Serie-A keeper this season. He has been doing an amazing job at Bologna. He is the one who decide this game.
So for me, this is just another bad day to lose a match. It is football. Far from a commitment issue or even lack of respect.
you can’t say so as inter has been failing to important matches like this, not only against big teams, and is in the slump. this is the real concern.
I’d say thuram and bony don’t get along well as pairs. also I’ve been saying this since conte was here, inter needs to work on long range shooting. when inter drops intensity due to fatigue level or being careful nothing can save the team, but accurate long shots. we do all the work except proper shots. even lauti tend to waste his chance. bony’s penalty will be the joke of century. shout out to josep for being exceptional last night. bisseck and enrique went back to factory setting. I personally think diouf should take the baton as right winger instead of luis. I’d be thankful if we could just win one trophy this year. people think we do fine, but the truth is we don’t. the mentality is right, we just need to be consistent in motivation. that’s where we are lacking most of the times
Another year and another example of we should not be taking this competition seriously.
Send the kids.
It’s another clear example of us not being as good as we think we are as we can’t beat anyone of substance.