Inter Milan fail to break away as Napoli hold them 2–2

Twice in front but unable to close it out, Chivu’s side settle for a draw in a high-level clash at San Siro

Inter Milan were unable to land the decisive blow that could have shaped the title race and opened a gap on both Milan and Napoli. 

At San Siro, against Antonio Conte’s Napoli, the match ended 2–2, leaving the standings unchanged at the top.

After the final whistle, Cristian Chivu, head coach of Inter Milan, spoke to DAZN via Fcinter1908, offering a clear-eyed analysis of the performance.

Chivu: “Two strong teams tried to win”

Asked about struggles in direct clashes, Chivu focused strictly on the match itself:

“I talk about the game. Two strong teams did everything they could to win.”

The Inter Milan coach admitted disappointment at not seeing the game through:

“It’s a shame we couldn’t maintain the double lead and the clarity to carry it through to the end. But there’s also credit to the opponents, who have quality and, like us, tried to win.”

Chivu highlighted the team’s mentality as the main positive:

“I take away the attitude and the desire to always go forward, sometimes maybe too much, as we were late in certain situations.”

Napoli’s strong start also drew recognition:

“In the first 20 minutes they really put us in difficulty, with longer spells of possession. We made mistakes in our pressing, we were stretched, and they moved the ball well at short range.”

A fair draw in a tight title race 

Despite the frustration, Chivu acknowledged the overall balance of the contest:

“In the end, the draw was fair for what we saw on the pitch.”

He also framed the result within the broader context of the season:

“There were two strong teams that raised the level of modern football and Serie A. We move forward and try to pursue our ambitions in this league, which is being fought point by point between four or five teams.”

Inter Milan may feel they missed a prime opportunity to accelerate away from their rivals, especially after recent results elsewhere, but the message from their coach is one of realism and awareness.

The championship remains wide open, the margins razor-thin, and Inter Milan remain fully in the fight, knowing that every detail will matter from here on out.