Chivu: "Sassuolo are a dangerous team, we need to be fully motivated"

After beating Ajax in the Champions League, Inter will be back in action at San Siro for Matchday 4 of Serie A: the game against Sassuolo will kick off at 20:45 CEST.

Ahead of the match, Cristian Chivu spoke at a press conference at the BPER Training Centre in Appiano Gentile

After winning in Amsterdam, how important is the group's maturity? "Maturity, solidity and understanding the game will all be decisive. Our goal is to win all three points."

In the past few weeks, before the game against Ajax, you were being criticised: how much does this motivate you? "It's part of the game and I am always aware. However, I focus on myself as I am very committed to what I need to do to help these boys, and to convince them that this team deserves to be defended as we are strong. Until March, this was a team that the whole world spoke about. Then, there was a bit of misfortune and we forgot how good these boys really are. And it's not fair, as I understand disappointment, but we must never forget that this team had a great season last year. This group has quality, skill... I could use thousands of adjectives, but they allow me to stay calm and thus my main concern is just getting the best out of them."

Will Lautaro and Josep Martinez play? "Lautaro trained with us and he has made himself available. A captain must do this. He knows this team so well, and he has never backed down. On Wednesday, he couldn't walk and so he came to sit with us on the bench. I am 100% sure that he will be available to play if need be. In these past two days he has done physio, today he was better and trained with us, so tomorrow he is available. I can say that one Martinez will play."

What do you expect from tomorrow's game? "All Serie A games have their challenges, and we are aware of this. There are no easy games in Serie A: Sassuolo are a well-prepared, well-organised and dangerous team. They can cause us issues with their two pacey wingers and their organisation in the midfield. They have strong, experienced players so we must be ready for anything against them."

If Lautaro doesn't play, will Pio Esposito be the first alternative? "Pio is doing well: he has a lot of quality, hunger and drive. He is aware of his position and what he must do and I like the way he is training every day. But as well as Pio, there's Thuram, Bonny and Lautaro. They are four great options and I like having so many high-calibre players available." At the moment, considering your selections, are the so-called older players performing just as well as the new ones? "I don't speak of old or new. What I have always said is that I choose my team based on who deserves it most. For me, the first eleven is important but changes during the game are even more so as they often impact the final result. Victory in Turin was achieved by those who came off the bench, then unfortunately, things went one way, but I would like to reward the attitude of a team who are training better knowing that they will get their opportunity. Sooner or later, they will all have the chance to start and then the rest will all be subbed on. I am speaking of those who haven't come on, as I always consider them." Calhanoglu is growing, is this a point when he needs to play? "He lacked rhythm, just like with Bisseck and Frattesi, and those who had issues at the end of last season. We are speaking of players who, from the start of June, have had physical problems and have had this problem for months. It's never easy coming back into a team that have already began preparing. However, little by little, by training every day, their time to play comes. Calhanoglu is important to us and what he gives us in the midfield is key."

Where are Luiz Henrique and Diouf in your idea of football? What position can you see them playing? "We will also see them play soon. The matches that we have played up until now have not allowed us to make certain changes and I must admit that I had to change my vision at certain points. They deserve to be in the first team and sooner or later they will play. Diouf is more of a wide midfielder. Luiz Henrique can play on the left and the right and I would be happy playing him in the midfield like he did for Monaco. He has got through a tough spell and we are liking what we are seeing. He will show his quality".

You have always said that your team must read the game well: where are you now on this? "Motivation and mentality or two key things for me, especially in a group like this which needs it. But at the same time, they need our support, and that of the fans. You can say that they are champions and that this should be automatic, however, we mustn't forget that they are humans. Even they have problems, they have feelings and weaknesses like all of us. We must support them, stay by them, and convince them that motivation and mentality are two key things in football, and in general." About Pio Esposito, how important was his attitude in keeping him here? What must he do to make that next step? "Pio is an exceptional guy, I say this as I have known him since he was little. We met when he was 13 and a half, we worked together and he already knew loads about football, even though he hadn't started physically developing. Then, he had this massive growth spurt, but he also grew mentally, and thus he has improved his game. He knows his limits well and how to get over them to minimise mistakes. He knows a lot about football and he has shown this. I have always said how I feel about him, but it's down to him to show that he deserves Inter. I would say that the Club World Cup helped as he played a great game against River Plate and he deserved his place in the side. I showed him to everyone and his teammates who want the best for him."