Cristian Chivu stays calm after controversial penalty vs Napoli

The Inter Milan coach focuses on his team’s growth, ignoring refereeing debates

After Napoli-Inter Milan, Cristian Chivu chose to put the controversy over the phantom penalty aside, sending a lesson to everyone.

“We cannot ask anyone for explanations, we wait for them. But we must not look for excuses or alibis. We have to focus on our game and avoid letting frustration hit us. We must always be proactive, since we cannot change decisions,” said Chivu.

Inter Milan coach Cristian Chivu stays calm, prioritizing team growth over referee controversies

Even in a match where Inter Milan fell into old weaknesses – defensive lapses, mental fragility, and nervousness clouding judgment – Chivu stayed true to his nature: he commands only the pitch, focusing all energy on positivity, according to Gazzetta dello Sport via Fcinter1908.

For this reason, there was no direct comment about the referee, despite the anger over Mariani’s mistake shared by the club and the coach. 

By not siding with the President to dispute the decision, Chivu avoided turning the protest into an alibi for the team.

Chivu’s vision extends beyond single incidents to the whole football system and the beauty of the game: he dislikes unnecessary arguments or shouting between coaches or players. Yesterday, he was particularly displeased with how his Inter Milan players fell into Conte’s trap.

The Mariani case will continue to stir debate in both the North and South of Italy, but at Chivu’s house, there will be no reactions – he keeps his focus solely on the team and the sport.