Chivu: "A hard - earned qualification"
FIFA Club World Cup
— Jun 26th 2025The thoughts of the Nerazzurri Head Coach after the 2-0 victory over River Plate, a result that secured Inter's spot in the round of 16 of the Club World Cup
It wasn’t an easy game for Inter, facing a determined and intense River Plate side right from the first minute. The clash at Lumen Field in Seattle demanded great physical and mental strength from the Nerazzurri, who broke down the wall built by the Argentines with goals from Francesco Pio Esposito and Alessandro Bastoni. The victory sends Inter through to the round of 16 of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, where they'll face Fluminense. The match is scheduled for Monday 30 June at 15:00 local time in Charlotte (21:00 CEST in Italy).
This is what Cristian Chivu had to say after the victory over River Plate:
“I never talk about myself; I talk about the group. Today, the team delivered a serious performance. It was a tough first half, but we wanted to get through. In the second half, we found the right balance and moved the ball faster. We managed to win and progress to the knockouts. On Monday, it’ll be another battle. We’ll need to recover physically and mentally to be ready. We all applauded Pio – he’ll have to treat us since his birthday is coming soon! He was up to the challenge in a match that was tough both physically and mentally. Like his teammates, he put in a great performance. I’m constantly seeking solutions and want everyone to feel valued. The energy and character must always be there to be ready to help the group. At the end of the tournament, we’ll think about the future, but right now our focus is on the competition because we want to honour it as best we can."”
Cristian Chivu