Chivu reflects on Inter Milan’s late 1–0 defeat to Liverpool

A contentious VAR penalty, early forced substitutions and fading energy shape Chivu’s verdict after a tense Champions League night

Inter Milan’s sixth match of the Champions League league phase ended in frustration, as a late and highly debated VAR-awarded penalty handed Liverpool a 1–0 win at San Siro. 

After the match, Cristian Chivu offered his analysis, acknowledging both the team’s effort and the decisive moments that dictated the outcome.

“A draw would’ve been fair”

Chivu opened with a sense of balance and regret:

“A draw would have been the right result for how the match evolved. Early on we suffered from their energy, but then we found the right rhythm. 

The problem came with the two substitutions we were forced to make in the first half. They conditioned our second half. We had little energy left and no changes available. It’s the second Champions League match in a row where an episode stops us from taking home points. Still, we had the courage to push until the end. We needed more clarity in the final third.”

On the penalty incident

The match’s defining moment arrived in the 87th minute, when Bastoni was penalized for a light hold on an opponent who exaggerated the fall. Chivu kept his tone measured:

“I comment very little on refereeing decisions. I focus on what we must learn, especially in the Champions League.

The referee interpreted the action well at first: he saw everything and didn’t give the penalty. Then VAR intervened. We need to learn to fight through these episodes and concentrate on what we want and need to improve.”

Expectations vs. Reality

On Liverpool’s approach, Chivu noted:

“We expected intensity and pressure. We could have done better, but we started a little intimidated. 

Then we grew into the match, found superiority, and they always left us the extra man at the back. In the second half, we hoped to carry the energy from the last twenty minutes of the first half. But once our legs faded and we couldn’t make changes, we dropped too deep.”

On Palladino’s comments

Raffaele Palladino (Atalanta's head coach) had also suggested the incident did not look like a penalty. Chivu smiled it off:

“I congratulate him on the win against Atalanta, and I’ll see him soon.”

Source: Fcinter1908