Chivu: “Simeone? I feel neither inferior nor superior. And Sommer I defend him”

No anxiety, just excitement. The derby defeat is just a painful experience to exploit to get back on track in the Champions League. This time Inter are awaiting a very complicated match, at the Metropolitano against former Simeone’s Atletico, but Cristian Chivu is convinced that the players have gotten over the city’s disappointment to set sail into the international ocean with confidence. “The beauty of football is that it always gives you revenge. Sometimes the result may seem unfair – he explains in the press conference the day before – but I look at the full part of the glass, because for me it was three-quarters filled. It wasn’t enough to beat Milan just due to a lack of luck and clarity. But I want the team to continue to offer the good things that have been seen in recent times: the growth path is evident. On Sunday we were solid, much more than what happened against Roma when we had won. It went so, but now there is the Champions League.”

goals

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With 12 points in 4 games, Inter have already almost guaranteed themselves the playoffs. If they were to also beat Atletico they would get closer to the top 8 with three matchdays to spare: “Some people think that we have only faced easy matches. But in a tournament like this there are no easy opponents. Now we want to continue our path, in this beautiful and warm stadium, to gain qualification. It will be a match similar to the derby, because Atletico is organised, intense and will start again quickly. We will need attention”. Of Simeone, who confided that he would see himself on the Inter bench one day, Chivu says: “I have always appreciated him as a footballer and as a character. I also saw him recently, in the friendly match in Libya, and I was happy to hear his very flattering words towards me. As for me, I have some experience in football and I would like to imitate his career. But I feel neither inferior nor superior.”

test

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For a team that struggles in head-to-head matches, the match against a big player in European football is a test of mentality: “No match is the same as another. It’s a shame to have lost a derby that we dominated but I’m sure that if we continue on this path sooner or later we’ll break down the taboo of big matches. The players are mature enough to understand that they played a quality match. And I have faith because Inter have always reacted well after a defeat.”

the choices

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A reasonable turnover is expected in Madrid. Thuram could rest (“Marcus is fine but we have to decide how to manage him, given that he is back from an injury”) to the advantage of Pio Esposito. Instead on the right, in the absence of Dumfries and Darmian, this time the shy Brazilian Luis Henrique could play. Chance also for Frattesi and Zielinski in the middle and for De Vrij in defense. Finally, Sommer was confirmed in goal, despite the decisive error on Pulisic’s goal. Chivu is definitive on the subject: “I defend him like all my players. But when he feels ready, Josep Martinez will also have his chances.”

lautaro

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The defeat against Milan is the last thorn to be pulled from the flesh. Returning here to the Metropolitano, however, means for Lautaro reviving another pain, older and more distant, the round of 16 of the 2023-24 Champions League against Atletico ended in penalties: that of Toro, the last one who gave the victory to Cholo, ended in hyperspace. Today the Argentine captain speaks on the eve of this rendezvous of high European nobility, again against the same Madrid team, with the desire to focus only on today: “That match two seasons ago is the past and it made us learn a lot. Atletico still remains a team of great value, playing in a stadium where the fans make themselves felt very much, but we know how much this match means to us given the derby: against Milan we certainly deserved more. But we are fine, even mentally, and we are prepare yourself to try and take very important points: against a rival of this value we need the best version of ourselves.”

friendship

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Compared to that precedent, his coach has changed – now there is Chivu, who sits next to him in the press room of the Metropolitano – and also the star of the Colchoneros: the challenge with Julian Alvarez, the colleague who is competing for his place in Argentina, adds spice to this match. “There is a wonderful friendship between me and Julian, we have a very close relationship – added Il Toro -: he is also about to become a father, he helps us in the national team and also helps his club a lot because he is having a great time. He and I talk a lot about Atletico because there are many players who play here and are called up by Scaloni: I see him very happy, but during the match we will only be opponents, then we will see each other again at the end. Returning to Inter is Simeone’s wish, we know what relationship he has with our club, but anything in the future will depend solely on him.” Last words on the moment he’s been living in for a while and that very strong feeling with the goal in Europe, already 4 in 3 games: “Before everyone said I didn’t score in Europe, now they say I do better in the Champions League, but I’m still myself: I try to give joy to my fans and the best in whatever role I have.”