Chivu: "It’s special to be here, we will try to raise the bar"

HONG KONG – Everything is set at Kai Tak Stadium in Hong Kong, where Inter and Manchester City will face each other on Saturday at 19:30 local time (13:30 CEST) for an international friendly.

The match will be broadcast live on DAZN and on Sky, at no extra cost for existing subscribers, while non-subscribers will be able to watch via pay-per-view on OneFootball and DAZN.

On the eve of the friendly, Inter head coach Cristian Chivu answered questions from journalists at his pre-match press conference. Before doing so, however, the Nerazzurri coach paid tribute to Franco Baresi: "We join the world of sport in sending our condolences to Franco Baresi’s family. Everyone who loves football has lost a great icon of this sport."

How important is it for you to be here, and what message do you want to send to the fans who are here in Hong Kong?

"It’s truly a pleasure to be here, in this incredible place. We are in the preparation phase for the new season, but it is special for us to have the opportunity to play here against a great team like Manchester City. Even if neither team is at 100%, everyone will certainly be happy with the level of performance we try to produce on the pitch."

How is the team doing?

"The team is doing well. We have prepared in Germany and, obviously, we are not at 100% physically yet, but that is normal. That’s why we will do our best, showing the maximum level of intensity possible."

What does Stones' arrival bring to the team and what do you expect from the next few weeks?

"I’m happy with Stones’ arrival. He is important for us for many reasons: his quality, his personality and his charisma. He raises the level of our defence. At the moment, we are enjoying working with the players who are available here; we are waiting for those who will return from their post-World Cup holidays, and we still have another month of the transfer window ahead of us. The team is competitive, but there is always a need for important players who can take you to the next level and allow you to stay aligned with this club’s ambitions."

Is there something missing from the team?"

We need patience. I ask for the bar to be raised. We certainly like players who bring enthusiasm and who want to be part of this great group. We will assess the opportunities."

You're going to face a Manchester City side coached by Enzo Maresca.

"He has already won the Championship and the Club World Cup. He is young, but he has already done very well. I think he is the right man to lead the Club after Guardiola."