Chivu: "We want to carry on growing, this squad is achieving great things"

“It comes down to maturity; it’s about finding techniques and methods to win a game. I think that’s the secret to it, especially when the team is running low on energy because we have so many matches in a row, and even with rotations, it’s still difficult. I’ll take the result. It was a good first half, where we pushed a little harder than our usual game plan and managed to get the game going with our two-goal lead at the break. In the second half, we slowed down a bit, partly because we were low on energy and partly because of the situation. We didn’t create a lot of chances, thinking we could manage the game as it was, and we did just that, but sometimes we needed to try a little harder, even if it wasn’t easy. I know this because I’ve been in situations like that myself as a player: it’s never easy when you are playing every three days. Our next aim? Consistency. We want to find approaches and methods to read the game and understand the different situations we’re in. There’s always room for improvement. But I appreciate the maturity and this strong desire to play so competitively, to always be the best versions of ourselves on the day, despite the difficulties we face. I also appreciate the maturity of this group, of these players, because they’re achieving great things, things that keep us playing so competitively. It’s not easy, even for me as a coach it’s tough. This is the life we’re living: you wake up in the morning and you’re not sure whether you’re at home or in a hotel. But there’s a positive side to it too, because this group shows great maturity, ambition and a real hunger to compete. I’m sure the players feel it the same way. Regarding the flare incident involving Audero, the President has already strongly condemned it. I speak on behalf of the club and fully agree with everything he said. We’re always under scrutiny because this is Inter. People say we’re the strongest team, expectations are extremely high, and that comes with responsibility. It’s something I’ve experienced at this club both as a player and now as a coach, so I expected it. I’ve always tried to give this group confidence, belief and self-esteem. They’re a fantastic group with everything it takes to be competitive. There’s still a long way to go this season, with many games left to play. We’ve put ourselves in a good position through our own work and the growth of this team, but now we need to keep building consistency on everything we’ve done well so far. There is still a long road ahead until the end of the season. ”