Chivu: "Responsibility, ambition, and the desire to grow"

Inter kick off 2026 at San Siro, hosting Bologna on Sunday 4 January at 20:45 CET on matchday 18 in Serie A. Speaking from the BPER Training Centre in Appiano Gentile, Cristian Chivu looked ahead to the fixture in his pre-match press conference:

Tomorrow, you go again. What kind of match do you expect, and what responsibilities do you feel at this moment? "The usual responsibilities that come with the expectations and ambitions this team has carried for many years. We know tomorrow will be a tough game against a side that has caused problems for everyone in recent years because they have grown a lot and have a clear identity and an intensity that challenges every team they face."

Why is it so difficult to beat Bologna? "It's hard to play against a team with a clear identity, energy, and the ability to make even simple things difficult for you. When they attack, they have inverted-footed players on the wings who can create problems, they fill the box at the right moments, and they are well set up. Defensively, they press man-to-man, with excellent timing, and can get many players back behind the ball very quickly."

You're challenging at the top, but what would you like to see more of? "We always have to keep improving. That's something we've tried to get across from the very start, and the players have begun to believe in it. Teams that want to stay competitive must always add something extra, and a sense of responsibility and ambition must never be lacking."

Do the jabs coming from other teams and cities carry any weight for you? "For me, none at all. Given how I was brought up and the way I see football, they matter very little beyond media noise. They have nothing to do with the sport itself, which should remain just that - a sport - without constantly looking for non-constructive criticism and pointless controversy that serves no one."

Cancelo is being mentioned as a possible January reinforcement. What do you think might happen? "I'd rather talk about my players: Luis Enrique, Diouf, Dumfries, and Darmian, who will be back soon. I prefer to focus on what I have available. I love this group and these players. They're at the level required for Inter, and I want to talk about them."

With such a packed schedule, is it about taking one game at a time, or managing energy across a run of nine matches in 28 days? "When we've had a congested fixture list, we've always tried to rotate and to find fresh energy based on the opponents' characteristics and our training sessions. We need everyone, because playing every three days isn't easy if you want to stay competitive. We have a 25-man squad with 22 outfield players who are all capable of stepping in while keeping the team competitive. You expend a lot of energy in every match, and every game matters, so you have to find strength in responsibility and rotation to keep delivering results."

Inter seem to be committing more fouls than at the start of the season. Are the team working to improve in that area as well? "In terms of responsibility and awareness of danger, yes. When you apply certain types of pressure, there's always the risk of being bypassed, so you need to know how to react. If the number of fouls increases, that's part of football, and it also depends on the match itself. I've read a few newspaper headlines calling us a very physical side; I actually like that. I'm pleased my players have courage, that they're not afraid to go into tackles or commit a foul if it's needed to try to create something important once we win the ball back."

De Vrij and Frattesi: is there scope to increase their minutes, or are you concerned they might seek more playing time elsewhere during the season?” "I'm not concerned at all. I trust their professionalism, both in training and when they're called upon. They're important players, like everyone else, and they're ultimately responsible for their own playing time. It's true that they've played less than others – partly for physical reasons, in Davide's case, and partly due to different tactical choices, as we also started rotating Akanji and Bisseck in central defence. But we know what Stefan brings to the group, and he'll certainly get more opportunities, just as Davide will."

Nowadays, goals often come from taking advantage of the opponent’s mistakes. Do you agree, and how are you working on this in training? "In today's game, when you win the ball back, you have more opportunities to score. If you try to build slow, controlled moves against a team sitting deep, it becomes much more difficult. For us, pressing the opponent – even if it means taking on a bit more risk – is about intercepting the ball and playing more vertically, attacking a defensive line that isn't fully organised."

At the start, there were some difficulties. Have you started to enjoy it more now? Who do you see as the favourite? "Not really… I enjoy it a little more because I see controversies that don't actually exist – the usual stuff. But we know that perceptions from the outside are influenced by a thousand other things, so it doesn't weigh on me. My duty is to help this team grow. As for the favourite, there are five teams within a few points of each other. That's how the table stands, and maybe a month from now it will change. Among the top five, the differences are minimal, so all of them have a chance to go all the way."