Inter Milan aim to extend their winning streak to eight in all competitions, and Cristian Chivu set the tone ahead of the trip to Napoli in his pre-match press conference, praising young duo Francesco Pio Esposito and Ange-Yoan Bony, insisting that his team “doesn’t have a better pair”.
He started by weeding out stories that were too biased toward the past. “It doesn’t really matter what happened before. What matters is that the Italian champions will play the runners-up,” he said via FCInterNews.
“I’m sure both sides have very high ambitions. It’s going to be a tough battle. Both teams will want to stick to their guns and take home a result.”
Chivu refused to make the match a Scudetto deciding match in October.
“You can’t compare with last year. One team won the title and the other team didn’t,” he pointed out.
“Tomorrow is the 8th round, but it’s still early.
The rivalry and ambition is there as Napoli have won two titles in the last three years and are a huge force in Italian football as well as in Italian football.
This is a match that both teams want to impose on themselves and express their ambitions. ”
“I don’t need extra motivation” – Chivu talks about pressure, perspective and Maradona
When asked if the night “determines” the season, Chivu smiles despite the brief commotion in the room.
“It’s an important game. Let’s not deny reality. These are important points that will determine the course of the season. But it’s too early to say anything definitive,” he insisted.
“Both us and Napoli have lost two, but only Milan have lost one and there have been some draws. Move forward. It’s matchday eight. We have to understand the importance of the game.”
“You’re playing a lot, but you’re not playing for everything. You need the right passion. It’s not going to be a friendly environment for us.”
“Therefore, we must be mentally and physically prepared to give a great performance.”
Asked whether playing against former Inter manager Antonio Conte would be fuel for Inter’s senior mainstay, Chivu dismissed the idea.
“There’s no extra motivation,” he essentially said. “I don’t think we need to talk about those things. That was five years ago. During that time Inter had two stars and reached two Champions League finals.”
“There was joy, there was disappointment, time has passed. I don’t think anyone is thinking of more brilliance just for the sake of the opponent.
“We are Inter. Indeed, we respect who we are in recent years. We know who we are and who we want to be. That’s it.”
“We are hoping for a great season and good performances to move the project forward and build on the good results of recent years.”
Inter Milan coach Chivu: ‘There’s no need to justify rest days’
Chivu also defended his decision to give his team a break after Inter’s win over Union Saint-Giroise in midweek.
“Do I need to justify a rest day? It seems normal to me. Sometimes the best training is rest,” he said.
“Many people are not home on international missions. We returned from Rome at 5am and then spent three days in Belgium.
“It felt right to give them a minimum amount of rest to be with their families. Sometimes you have to switch off. You can’t always think the same way. I trust their professionalism and sense of responsibility.”
He emphasized the practical aspects.
“We’re playing all the time, so it’s difficult to run a full session to prepare for a match.”
Napoli vs. Inter Milan: Chivu says ‘there is no best pair’ amid Pio Esposito and Bony’s breakthrough
Chivu was clear about whether partnering Lautaro Martinez would change Inter’s play.
“Nothing changes for me. They’re just numbers,” he said.
“Some people think Bony is similar to Thuram, but Pio is Pio and no one else is like him. I have four forwards who are compatible, so mixing them doesn’t change the output.”
“They are generous and put the team first. There is no such thing as a ‘best pair.’ They showed at the start of this season that they can play together and not get in each other’s way.”
Identity and work ethic – same standards in all games
When asked about preparing for his best game, whether as a coach or a player, Chivu emphasized consistency.
“My experience has taught me that if you want to have continuity in your goals, you need to treat every match the same,” he said.
“You can’t afford to think you’re better in advance. With that kind of approach, you’re not going to win trophies. If you do that, then the ‘big’ match comes and you don’t know how to react to it.
“We always try to be the best version of ourselves. I was in a group where practices were harder than games. That doesn’t mean we didn’t prepare properly.”
“Victory is never guaranteed. Victory must be earned. The famous ‘moment’ must be managed. ”
Kivu comments on Australian venture in Serie A
The manager was also asked about Milan’s match against Como in Perth. He used it to emphasize a broader philosophy.
“I don’t see ghosts because I learned not to complain. Complaining wastes energy,” he said.
“If there is a positive side, look for it. It’s not up to me, but we played a friendly in Libya and I was happy to go there. Show that football is international and that we are professionals with obligations.”
“Then it’s up to the club to manage the energy. Maybe we’ll learn to do something for the team by giving them a few days off.”
Regarding Serie A’s recent low-scoring round, Chivu pushed back on the damning talk. “I have been in Italy for many years. We have never been ‘superior’ in terms of pure scoring ability. The team is very well prepared tactically and they plan their matches based on the opponent,” he explained.
“Overseas, you don’t worry too much about the opponent and concentrate on your own game. That doesn’t mean Italian football is inferior or backwards. It’s just a different interpretation.”
The road to youth – Luis Enrique, Diouf and responsibility
Finally, Chivu mentioned the new players’ minutes.
He never singled out people who were unbalanced. “If we talk about Luis Enrique, we have to mention Diouf, who played well,” he said.
“They are training well and trying to get through this period. They are quality young people with room to grow mentally.
“I don’t think they are completely ready for Italian football yet. But that doesn’t mean we won’t give them a chance.”
He also accepted his role in timing. “The responsibility is on me. With so many games, I have less time to explain certain things to them,” he admitted.
“Given their dedication, they are legitimate players who will release themselves mentally sooner or later. They have quality and they are showing it every day. Step by step their moment will come. We will see them on the pitch very soon.”
