Cristian Chivu accepted full responsibility for Inter Milan’s Supercoppa Italiana exit after their semi-final defeat to Bologna on penalties, insisting that his decisions were made to protect the players and the collective balance of the squad.
Speaking in his post-match press conference, the Inter coach returned to the subject of the shootout.
He described penalties as an exercise in courage and accountability rather than preparation.
“For me, courage and responsibility are what matter,” Chivu said, with quotes via FCInterNews.
“Taking a penalty isn’t simple, and training them isn’t simple either. Unfortunately tonight they went against us.”
Chivu Defends Decision Not To Use Pio Esposito & Calhanoglu In Inter Shootout Loss To Bologna
Chivu was asked specifically about his decision not to introduce Francesco Pio Esposito for the shootout.
The Romanian coach was clear in his reasoning.
“I didn’t want to risk sending a player on cold just to take a penalty,” he explained. “It’s not easy, and the responsibility is mine.”
The same logic applied to Hakan Calhanoglu, who was left on the sidelines despite his reputation from the spot.
“Calhanoglu is coming back from an adductor issue and I didn’t feel comfortable asking him to step up cold,” Chivu added.
Those choices were also part of a wider rotation strategy.
“That’s how the decision to rest some players came about,” he said.
“I take responsibility for the performance.”
Despite the disappointment, Chivu was keen to highlight Bologna’s progress, offering credit to the opposition.
“We have to congratulate Bologna for what they are doing and building,” he noted.
From a tactical perspective, Chivu felt Inter had the upper hand after the break. “In the second half we dominated the match,” he said.
“Unfortunately, in front of goal we made mistakes, or their defensive line defended very well in those situations.”
Looking ahead, the Inter coach struck a resilient tone. “That’s football,” Chivu concluded.
“You try, you fall, you cry and you get back up. Great men step out of their comfort zone knowing that things don’t happen overnight. This group has the human qualities to get through this moment.”
For Chivu, the Supercoppa setback is a lesson rather than a verdict, one he believes Inter have the mentality to absorb and overcome.
It’s appaling that there are fans who prefer Inter being a mediocre, losing club..
Others actually think penalties is a lottery so its ok for Inter to produce one of the worst penalties in near history.One player who’s supposed to be new literally passed to the keeper. If Chivu knew it was straight to penalties why waste subs when he could make proper subs to give the team a chance. For instance Hakan even if he’s fit to walk he can take a far better penalty and I beleive Pio wouldn’t pass to the keeper like Bony did. Why Susic and Diouf who are not going to take penalties. There’s a losing mentality in big matches and Chivu seems to actually help in that trend by just being too passive like not using Diouf from minute 1 and use Henrique who’s a proven FLOP at this point.
Well yes … round of applause for clown Marotta for hiring an inexperienced coach. Secondly for keeping Bisseck when he could have been sold to Crystal Palace which is where he belongs and buying lookman. and the press in Italy considers Maratto to be untouchable. He is a clown and is crashing Inter with these stupid decisions. Inter needs to get rid of Marotta . It’s time for a new vision.
no one cares for your constant negativity.
go support another team
losing is part of the game.
go support PSG and their fake financial accounts in the farmer league if you want a team who wins 99% of the time.
we also need to get rid of the tech director and his scouts. Always going for medicore players with no excitement. If we are losing to Bologna just cause we didnt have lautaro and Canhanolu on, we are just that medicore. We always make too many miss passes and back passes. Im fine with a lose, but the style of football is appalling.