Chivu: “We were lucky but kept believing”

“We lacked energy, were slow to do certain things and were surprised by their low block. We were slow to attack their back line, but that can happen when you play every three days. The first half reminded me of that famous 3-1 defeat at Catania in 2010. We were a little fortunate to win today. We kept believing and gave what we had, but we were lucky. Games like this happen: sometimes you lack conviction and think you can get over the line by doing the bare minimum. But credit to our opponents, who forced us into tight spaces and made it difficult for us to play with the right energy and make the right runs. Provedel kept us in the game today, and our experience, strength and determination saw us through. We’ll go into the derby on 25 points, knowing where we stand at the moment and aware that we need to give our best. We have just a few days to recover our energy, especially mentally. I’m also referring to the players I had to take off at half-time to shake things up. Derbies have a story of their own, and we’ll be ready. Carlos is doing well. We played him in the back three today to protect us against counter-attacks, but he wasn’t feeling his best either. He’s focused and always gives everything. He’s been a great help lately, as have all the others. We’re very happy with what he’s doing: he gives us energy, strength, pace and a few goals too. It’s never easy to start well and stay focused, especially after such a successful year. We’re working to keep our feet on the ground and maintain the same hunger as we pursue new goals. I have a committed group who never stop giving their best, but we need an extra spark to find the determination that so many games demand. There’s plenty for us to work on technically, tactically and mentally. Seasons are long, and we know that what we’ve done in the past no longer counts.”