Chivu: "I trust the players, their maturity makes the difference"

“I’ve known Pio Esposito for seven years. He was a small child, he came up to my chest. We practically grew up together. I know him well, I know his family, his ambition, and his path through the youth sector. He was my captain in Inter’s Primavera, and I’m happy for him, as well as for the whole team. Today was a really tough match. I expected a difficult game. After an intense match like last Sunday against Napoli, playing another game within 72 hours is challenging. But I saw the team’s attitude: despite the difficulties in finding rhythm and clarity, they believed until the very end. They gave their heart and soul on the pitch to bring home the victory. These are the kinds of games that are easier to lose than to win, and yet today we got the win. I don’t coach for my conscience, I coach for what I see in the players’ eyes. Sometimes I make decisions that might seem strange, but my goal is to build the next five months of the season, not justify every choice. I’ve won the semi-title of winter champion in my career, but that means nothing. What matters is reaching May, knowing you’re competitive. It will be a tight league campaign and a battle until the very end. I went to training camps as a player too. And it’s not like going to a camp guarantees you win matches, nobody can promise that. It takes clarity and awareness. I trust my players, their maturity, and I’m happy with how they commit themselves every day, despite the difficulties.”