Chivu reflects on Inter Milan’s gritty win against Roma: “The team gave everything”

The Inter Milan manager credits his players’ mentality and resilience after a tough battle at the Olimpico

After Inter Milan’s crucial win over Roma, head coach Cristian Chivu spoke to DAZN via Fcinter1908 about the team’s performance, highlighting both the progress made and the areas that still need improvement.

“The group immediately adapted to the demands of a high-level league,” Chivu said. “We try to stay proactive and achieve our goals. It’s not easy after last year’s disappointment, when expectations were much higher, but the boys deserve a lot of credit — they always give their best.”

“A complicated match after the break”

The coach emphasized how challenging it was to restart after the international break:

“After a break, it’s always an unknown. We only had one full training session together yesterday. The players tried to pick up where we left off. We had a great first half, pressed well, and could’ve done better on a few counterattacks. In the second half, we dropped a bit, partly because Roma played really well and pinned us back. But we defended attentively and, yes, were a little lucky. I’ll take these three points — it’s never easy to win here.”

On Lautaro Martínez and leadership

Chivu also explained his decision to substitute Lautaro and praised the captain’s professionalism:

“It was about his condition and his effort. He’d only trained once and had a bad cold. But, like a true captain, he made himself available to the team. He’s humble, sacrifices himself, and that’s paying off — he’s scoring and leading the group both on and off the field.”

“The final hug? They caught me by surprise!”

With a laugh, Chivu described the post-match celebrations:

“They just happened to catch me while running to celebrate! But it shows the awareness of having achieved something important. These are the kinds of matches that shape a team’s journey. The players understood that, and we’re heading home happier than before.”

A lighthearted finish

Chivu closed the interview with his trademark humor when asked about his plans for the evening:

“NFL or Milan–Fiorentina? I never miss the Red Zone! Maybe I’ll watch both — I’ve got a tablet and a TV. It depends on what my wife and daughter say,” he joked.

Inter Milan leave the Olimpico with another confidence-boosting win, and Chivu’s words perfectly sum up the team’s growing unity and determination as they continue their march toward the top of Serie A.