Inter Milan continue to show a growing ability to suffer, adapt and win, and Cristian Chivu believes that maturity was decisive in the Nerazzurri’s 1-0 victory away to Udinese.Speaking to DAZN, via ...
Inter Milan continue to show a growing ability to suffer, adapt and win, and Cristian Chivu believes that maturity was decisive in the Nerazzurri’s 1-0 victory away to Udinese.
Speaking to DAZN, via FCInterNews, after the match, Cristian Chivu stressed that Inter no longer need dominant scorelines to collect points.
Instead, timing, efficiency and sacrifice have become central to their identity.
“With Pio Esposito, Lautaro has more verticality, and they work very well together,” Chivu said.
“I have four forwards who all work well. They complement each other and put everything at the disposal of the group. They live the daily routine through work and serenity. All four are doing a great job.”
Inter’s recent run, against Parma, Lecce and Udinese, has also highlighted a clear improvement in defensive solidity compared to the opening phase of the season.
Central to that evolution has been the flexible use of Manuel Akanji, who often drops into midfield when Inter are under pressure.
“This is an extra solution, especially when we have to suffer and opponents start playing long balls,” Chivu explained.
“We keep physicality in front of the box. Lately the whole team has been doing a great job in terms of attention and responsibility in the defensive phase. That starts from high pressing, moves through the mid-block and ends with a very low defence. There is a huge desire to carry on with the work and the project, to stay competitive and push forward a season that is not going badly at all.”
Udinese 0-1 Inter – Chivu Uses Own Experience To Shape Bisseck & Akanji Paths
MILAN, ITALY – DECEMBER 09: Manuel Akanji of FC Internazionale during the warm up prior to the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD6 match between FC Internazionale Milano and Liverpool FC at Stadio San Siro on December 09, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Chivu also smiled when asked about his own past experience on the pitch. “I also played in front of the defence at times,” he said.
“I played everywhere. Unfortunately, I didn’t have Akanji’s physical structure. Did I give more quality? Yes, but in the last five minutes you need to clear the ball and do the dirty work.”
On Yann Bisseck, who has increasingly pushed forward with confidence, Chivu added: “He’s starting to understand his role and, in my opinion, he’s defending better.”
Finally, the Inter coach reflected on the broader transformation of his team since he and his staff arrived, particularly the shift towards a more aggressive style.
“What we show on the pitch is proof of the players’ desire and acceptance,” Chivu said.
“It’s not easy to change certain habits. It starts with doubling up, with midfielders wanting to go into duels and defenders keeping a high line even when they know there’s space behind them.
“When most of our preparation happens in the video room because there isn’t time on the training pitch, their desire is crazy.
“I congratulate everyone because they all made themselves available for our ideas and are trying to carry this season forward.”
Inter’s narrow win in Udine may not have been spectacular.
However, Chivu’s words underline a squad growing in belief, flexibility and collective responsibility, qualities that could prove decisive as the season enters its most demanding phase.
Chivu: ‘We Don’t Have Time To Underestimate Anyone’
MILAN, ITALY – DECEMBER 03: Cristian Chivu, Head Coach of FC Internazionale Milano, looks on prior to the Coppa Italia round of 16 match between FC Internazionale and Venezia FC at San Siro Stadium on December 03, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Chivu then returned to the broader context of the fixture, with quotes via FCInterNews, especially given the looming Champions League clash with Arsenal, and rejected any suggestion that Inter had approached the match with one eye elsewhere.
“From the outside, certain matches get underestimated. I don’t have the luxury of underestimating anything and choices have to be made. Today we faced a strong, well-coached team. The decisions we took were based only on the opponent, without thinking about anything else and without doing calculations. When you start calculating, you risk calculating badly.”
The Inter coach also clarified specific tactical choices, including Nicolò Barella’s defensive assignment.
“We never know exactly what the opponent will propose,” Chivu said.
“Many teams change their identity depending on who they face. We try to understand the moments without losing our own identity. We have a mature team that recognises certain situations. From the bench we try to help as much as possible. Barella runs endlessly, he’s doing very well. He’s happy to be in this team and to help bring a season forward in which we want to stay competitive.”
Chivu also acknowledged that Inter struggled more after Pio Esposito left the pitch, while praising the contribution of those who replaced him.
“Pio gives you an extra option with his back to goal,” he said.
“Bonny did his best. At times we were a bit too elaborate, but apart from the final minutes we played a good match. You do the nice things when you can. The rest of the time you have to be concrete.”
The Inter coach closed by underlining the collective effort required to protect a narrow lead in such a demanding environment.
“It wasn’t easy to defend the clean sheet,” Chivu concluded. “But we managed it. Everyone put everything they had onto the pitch.”
Category: General Sports
