Inter Milan manager Cristian Chivu is aware of the difficulty of the task awaiting his side against Borussia Dortmund tomorrow.
During the pre-match conference via FCInterNews, the 45-year-old coach hailed the famous atmosphere at Signal Iduna Park.
Wednesday’s clash in North Rhine-Westphalia has all the makings of a must-win affair for Inter if they’re to secure a top-eight finish.
Despite winning their first four UEFA Champions League games, Inter head into this round a point adrift of eighth-placed Chelsea.
Indeed, the San Siro giants have lost their last three European outings, including a 3-1 home defeat to Arsenal a week ago.
Even a win at Signal Iduna Park might not be enough to propel Inter to direct last-16 qualification.
Unfortunately, the Nerazzurri will also need other results to go their way.
However, Cristian Chivu must make sure his men hold up their end of the bargain in their first showdown against Dortmund since 2019.
Inter Milan Boss Cristian Chivu Hails Borussia Dortmund Home Atmosphere
“The objective was to finish in the top eight,” Chivu said. “Today we’re fourteenth. We’ll be facing a strong team.
“There’s a lot of energy in this stadium, and we have to be ready for a match like this. There will be time to think about the league.
“Here everyone feels important and involved, and they show it when they step onto the pitch and make their contribution.
“It’s not easy here because of the energy and Kovač’s style of play; they know how to exploit their players’ qualities.
“Like all teams, they have issues too, especially in the defensive phase, and they’ll be working on that as well.
“Having the home advantage is always important. But can you handle the pressure of playing at home? We’re professionals.
“The rules have changed; you have to approach a two-legged tie, or a one-off match, the same way.
“To win, you need a lot mentally and emotionally.”
Then, he commented on Inter’s stomach-wrenching defeats to Atletico Madrid and Liverpool.
“We’ve lost some matches, but we deserve what we have.
“Probably against Liverpool and Atletico, we deserved more, and we picked up little even against a truly strong opponent like Arsenal.
“What I take away is how much the team has grown over the last two months.
“Perfect seasons don’t exist. Patience with mistakes, we’ll have to correct them.”
Cristian Chivu Delivers Squad Update Ahead of Borussia Dortmund vs Inter Milan Clash
Nicolo Barella is at risk of missing tomorrow’s game due to injury.
“Barella will undergo medical tests tomorrow,” Chivu said. “It doesn’t seem serious, but he needs further checks.”
Meanwhile, Lautaro Martinez is expected to lead the line, aiming to end his three-game drought in the Champions League.
“Lautaro never wants to rest,” Chivu confirmed. “He’s always ready to make his contribution.”
Furthermore, he heaped praise on resurgent midfielder Piotr Zielinski.
“A fantastic player,” he stated. “He’s doing his best even when he’s not always playing in his natural position.
“The physical condition he’s reaching will also benefit Poland in the March playoffs.”
Finally, he praised Yann Sommer and Luis Henrique, even though the latter remains under heavy scrutiny.
“They’re doing very well,” Chivu said. “The players applauded my decision to take the Brazilian off and stood by him.
“Sommer has experience; he’s been through good times and bad. They have the respect of their teammates; the rest matters little.”
Save energy for Cremonese. We are in good path for Scudetto.
Spoken like a true leader