Romanian icon Adrian Mutu has praised Inter Milan head coach Cristian Chivu in a new interview.
Speaking on the GSP podcast “2 la 1” via FCInterNews, Mutu called his compatriots “the pride of Romania”.
Widely considered one of the most controversial figures in football history, Adrian Mutu rose to fame at the beginning of this century.
In fact, the former striker spent most of his professional football career in Serie A.
He got his first taste of Italian football at San Siro, joining Inter from Dinamo Bucuresti in 2000.
However, he left the club after less than a year and joined Hellas Verona.
He then moved to Chelsea in 2003, but returned to Serie A with Livorno the following year.
He then had spells at Juventus, Fiorentina and Cesena before leaving Italy in 2012.
Meanwhile, Cristian Chivu was also a standout star in Serie A during his playing days.
Unlike his compatriots, the 44-year-old continues to maintain ties to the league even after his retirement.
After being a great manager at Parma last season, he was appointed as Inter’s manager in the summer.
What’s more, in his first months in charge, he turned the Nerazzurri into a force to be reckoned with.
Adrian Mutu praises Inter Milan manager Cristian Chivu
“Kivu has had a great three months in Parma,” Mutu said. “He saved the team from relegation and achieved his goal.
“His path has always been towards Italy.
“When I coached Rapid and took the team to the play-offs, no one asked why I was there and why Chivu was at Inter U16s.
“Now that he is in the first team, everyone asks about him, like we are brothers or rivals.
“His presence at Inter is positive for Romania. If he succeeds, it’s good for me and for all the coaches. I congratulated him. We talk often.
“Of course I wanted to be in his place. Every coach wants that. We are talking about a Champions League finalist. We are talking about a Champions League finalist.”
“I didn’t have the patience. I wanted to coach right away. Chivu is a team we built in Italy.”
“He was in a different system.”
Adrian Mutu hits back at Walter Zenga over recent criticism of Christiv Chivu
Walter Zenga criticized Chivu last month for Inter’s consecutive defeats to Udinese and Juventus in Serie A.
“I didn’t care about the criticism, but I did care about the way it was done,” Mutu replied. “Did you see how they beat him after losing twice?
“He was probably frustrated.
“In the second game he criticized, but in the 5-0 game in Turin he was not heard. Remember that Walter was also in Romania. I know what I am saying.”
“You have no idea what it meant when I scored my two goals against Roma and heard the cry ‘Gypsy’ from the 70,000 people at the Olimpico!”
“You do not understand what Romanians abroad are suffering.
“I was concerned about the undertones of racism and superiority. When he says ‘Romanian,’ I’m already concerned about it.
“Kivu has been living in Italy for many years. He won the Champions League with Inter. I lived there for 15 years and speak perfect Italian and I used to listen to Zenga’s declarations.”
“That’s why I say give him a little respect, he’s an Inter legend as he is.
“And Walter is also half Romanian and has a child with his Romanian wife.
“When we talk about Italians, we speak with admiration.”
