Chivu ahead of Dortmund vs Inter: "Ready physically and mentally"

Champions League action for Inter tomorrow, as they are set to face Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday evening on Matchday 8 of the League Phase in the UEFA Champions League. From the BVB Stadion in Dortmund, here were the words of Nerazzurri Head Coach Cristian Chivu at the pre-match press conference.

The comparison with the Inter side you played in comes naturally: that team took energy from its surroundings. Does your team work in the same way? “This team has the ambition to be competitive. Everyone has been working to raise the bar since I arrived, to add something extra. They’re all doing well. There have indeed been some ups and downs, but we’ve always reacted strongly. We’ve introduced some ideas, and everyone has embraced them. That’s part of the process.”

You’re top of the league, while in the Champions League, you’re close to automatic qualification: is it possible to go deep in every competition? “We’re 14th in the Champions League, when the objective we’d set ourselves was to finish in the top eight. The match against Dortmund is important. We’re facing a team in good form that rarely loses at home and is often driven by their fans. We have to be ready physically and mentally. We’ll talk about the league later. The squad is strong, everyone feels involved, and they’ve shown that very clearly.”

After the match against Pisa, you said good things about Sommer and Luis Henrique. How are they? “They’re doing well. They’re professionals, and they have the respect of their teammates. My decision regarding Luis’ substitution wasn’t about his performance, and we’ve spoken about it in recent days. What matters is that the group understood and supported Luis. There are no issues. Sommer has a long career behind him; he’s experienced everything, and he has everyone’s respect. That’s what counts.”

Inter’s league form is clear, while in Europe, you have slowed a bit… “We lost matches where we deserved more, but maybe what we have is what we deserve. We conceded late in Madrid; against Liverpool, they got a late penalty. We also played well against Arsenal, with determination and courage against a strong opponent. Their third goal came at the end, when we had three forwards on the pitch and were pushing for the equaliser. Over the last two months, this team has grown mentally and in terms of attitude. Mistakes can happen. Perfect seasons and performances don’t exist; you always have to keep improving.”

Borussia Dortmund are a hard team to work out: one of the best attacks in the Champions League, but they struggle defensively… “It’s not easy in this stadium, because of the boost it gives to the team. At home, they have energy, individual quality and a clear identity under Kovac. They play a more dominant style, they’re good in transition and have good movement up front. It won’t be easy. They also have problems, like all teams, but they’re certainly working on them.”

With a win, you could hope to qualify directly for the round of 16, but otherwise, how important is having the play-off second leg at home? “There is an advantage to playing at home, but two-legged ties have many nuances. To win, you always need to be at your best physically, mentally and emotionally.”

How is Barella? Have you considered resting Lautaro? “Nicolò had some muscular discomfort, so we didn’t call him up. He’ll have tests, but we hope it’s just fatigue. Lautaro never wants to rest. We never want to do without our players. Everyone is always ready to contribute.”

What do you ask of Zielinski on the pitch, and what do you think of his performances? “Piotr should be happy with how he’s playing, and we are too. We’re talking about a fantastic player with outstanding technical quality. He’s also playing in a position that isn’t his natural one, but he’s doing everything he can to help the team. His condition will continue to improve, and he’ll be important in the upcoming challenges.”