Cristian Chivu hits back at critics after Inter Milan win

Nerazzurri coach Chivu defends squad and questions the narrative

After Inter Milan’s victory over Genoa, Cristian Chivu made comments that quickly echoed across Italian media. One statement in particular stood out.

“My players always question themselves, because for us it is never enough, especially considering the narrative built around Inter Milan. Nothing is ever good enough and for five years we have rarely been given credit.”

But who was Chivu addressing?

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport via Fcinter1908, the European flop inevitably weighs on evaluations, including financial ones. 

The defeat to Bodø/Glimt at San Siro fueled regret over a continental campaign that produced five defeats in ten matches.

Chivu himself acknowledged the shortcomings. Yet there were mitigating factors. Facing the decisive playoff return leg without Lautaro Martínez, Hakan Çalhanoğlu and Denzel Dumfries, while Nicolò Barella and Marcus Thuram were far from peak condition, significantly reduced the team’s ambitions during an intense stretch of fixtures. 

To match the rhythm of a side that had trained exclusively for the Champions League for three weeks, Inter Milan would have needed far sharper physical form.

Between Scudetto obsession and European disappointment

Without reinforcements arriving in January, Chivu reportedly felt criticized for prioritizing the club’s primary objective: the Serie A title, an obsession shared by the squad. 

He chose to stand in front of the dressing room door, in the style of José Mourinho, defending his players and emphasizing the group’s commitment since last summer to bring joy to supporters.

Winning “only” the league has become, in general perception, a minimum requirement. 

Yet a domestic double, even with the often undervalued Coppa Italia, would cement Chivu’s place in club history. Only Mourinho previously secured both major domestic trophies in the same season on the pitch.

For Chivu, it is a high stakes table. Silence the debate, quiet the doubters, and let silverware do the talking.