Chivu: "A dream comes with great responsibility"

It’s the eve of Inter vs. Club Brugge, Matchday 2 of the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League league phase and the Nerazzurri’s first home game of the competition this season.

Ahead of the clash with the Belgian side, Nerazzurri coach Cristian Chivu answered questions from the media in a press conference live from the Inter Training Centre:

How do you see this competition this season? Has anything changed, is there a greater sense of belief?

“The status of this team and this Club demands that we try to achieve every objective we set ourselves over the course of the season. A dream is not something you are guaranteed to achieve: it has to become a responsibility. You have to work well and keep improving, both individually and as a group, if you want to achieve a dream like winning the Champions League. You need that sense of responsibility to understand the status of a Club that sets ambitious targets, while never losing sight of the work, the journey and all the ingredients required along the way. There is no formula, and no amount of money can buy you a trophy like this. No player or coach can guarantee it either. You need the courage to dream, but the most important thing is how you work towards it.”

Is Calhanoglu fit?

“We’ll make a few changes, but Calhanoglu is fine. I was actually surprised by the question after the last game. He’s never had any problems and he’s available.”

Where is Spence in terms of his fitness? And how is Bastoni?

“I’ll start with Djed. He has a week of training behind him, plus 25 minutes on Saturday, as well as today’s final session, which I wouldn’t really count. He’s getting fitter and gradually working through some of the frustration and tension caused by the problem he had. His sense of responsibility towards his teammates has grown as well, and we’re very happy to have him with us. I don’t want to go back over Bastoni or the treatment he has received. We know his quality and his personality, and both are at our disposal, just as they are for Italy. He has never had anything to prove to anyone. He has always been an important player. Sometimes people forget that we need to look after the players who represent both their clubs and Italy, especially given the issues the national team has faced. Alessandro is an important asset for both Inter and Italian football.”

Inter have set very high standards. Where can the team still improve?

“We’ve learned to appreciate the value of everything we achieve through hard work, and we never underestimate anyone. We’ve developed a mentality that allows us to step onto the pitch with a great sense of responsibility and the right attitude, with the desire to dominate, enjoy our football and get the result we want. We can still improve our ideas and do certain things better. This group of players is operating at a very high level, and the competition within the squad raises the standard in training and helps drive our ambitions. A Club of this stature needs to think in those terms and have a squad of the highest level.”

Games like these leave no room for distractions.

“We take things one game at a time. We focus on the next match and don’t look too far ahead because we’re playing every three days. Tomorrow is the most important one. Club Brugge are ambitious and proactive both with and without the ball. They press high and commit plenty of players forward. It won’t be an easy game, but we’re well aware of that. There are no easy matches in the Champions League.”

What will it be like to come up against Sommer again?

“What matters is everything he gave Inter during his three years here: the level he reached, the professionalism he brought to the team and the respect he always showed for the Club and its supporters. He helped us win trophies and reach important stages in Europe. All we can do is thank Yann for everything he gave us.”

Do you think a different approach will be needed in Europe in terms of how the team plays?“Would it be better to sit back and play on the counter? That isn’t something we decide in advance. We try to maintain our mentality, then the opponent and the way the game develops force you to make certain choices. In Madrid, we created chances, but after they went 1-0 up we had to change our approach in order to try to get back into the game. I want to give the players courage and confidence. The group has to maintain a high level, and each individual has to perform at his best in order to raise the level of the team as a whole. After everything I’ve said over the past year, I can’t suddenly tell the team to be cautious and play for the result in a one-off game. In the end, you usually get what you deserve. Mistakes will happen, but you move on with the belief that you can turn games around. I never want us to lose our identity, even in defeat. If we are going to lose, it has to be on our terms, not because the opposition have forced us away from the way we want to play.”

Against Parma, the players who came into the side performed at the same level as the regular starters. Will those fresh options be important in the Champions League as well?“I don’t like talking about status, starters or second-choice players. I pick the team based on energy levels, the opposition and the mental side of things, while also taking into account those who have been away from Inter and dealing with the pressure and expectations that come with international football. I see a group that wants to be competitive and pushes its teammates, including those competing directly for the same position, to improve. We also have five substitutions available and they can often be decisive, as we saw against Monza and Napoli. I’m sure this group understands how important it is to have a strong dressing room. Everyone has a role to play because the season is long and, given the way we play, we need a lot of energy.”