Chivu has ‘a lot to learn’ from Conte, Inter vs. Napoli might ‘influence’ the season
Inter coach Cristian Chivu admits he has ‘a lot to learn’ from Antonio Conte and is aware that tomorrow’s Serie A showdown at San Siro ‘can influence the trajectory of the season.’
Inter coach Chivu previewed tomorrow’s game between the Nerazzurri at Napoli during a press conference on Saturday.
Inter are the Serie A table leaders with a four-point lead over third-placed Napoli, the defending Italian champions.
Inter vs. Napoli – Chivu’s pre-match press conference
“They have changed their system and also some players. They have a strong squad and intensity,” Chivu said about Napoli via FcInter1908.
“It will be a difficult match for both sides, a football game in which maximum focus will be on everyone’s mind to make as few mistakes as possible. It will be a game of moments, which is normal when you face teams of a certain level.”
Chivu and Conte have argued in recent weeks, and the tension between Napoli and Inter dates to their last meeting in October, when the Napoli boss and Inter star Lautaro Martinez insulted each other.
“I have great respect for Conte as a coach. I faced him even when I was still playing. I congratulated him on what he managed to transmit to the team,” insisted Chivu.
“We want to go +7, they want to go -1. There is a lot in between desire and action. Commitment, ambition, everything you can put on the field. The only certainty we have is that we have always worked well during this period. This team has always had desire and ambition. Maybe we’ll have even more tomorrow. We are aware that it can be a match that can influence the trajectory of the season.
“Conte has evolved and does things more suited to modern football. He’s a winner, we young coaches have a lot to learn from learn from him,” continued the Inter coach.
“It’s not a comparison between him and me; the main actors in this sport are the players.”
Inter have won six consecutive matches in Serie A, while Napoli were held to a 2-2 draw by strugglers Verona on Wednesday. The defending champions have already lost seven away games across all competitions this season.
Inter beat Parma 2-0 away in the previous round.
“Napoli is more important than Parma,” Chivu said.
“We went through other matches to get here in these conditions; we tried to transmit the awareness that all matches must be treated seriously. The championship is a marathon; you have to be ready to face 38 matches, showing that you deserve to be competitive. We are doing that, with our highs and lows. We rolled out our sleeves, showing that the group still wants to give something. This is the first match of the second half of the season; we hope to do better than the first half, in a performance also conditioned by certain events. These days, we have also worked on facing injustices.
“It’s too easy to talk about lost direct clashes or certain things because the numbers say so. The reality is that I’ first in the league and have more points than those who have beaten me. Obviously, we also understand the importance of these matches, but all are equally important,” Chivu added.
“We are all aware of the importance of tomorrow’s match. Perhaps, in terms of conviction, we have improved a lot compared to one or two months ago. It’s thanks to the players, a very mature team that has understood it needs to add something extra.
“It’s not easy to play every three days, but we have solutions and alternatives. We’ll come up with something: coaches have to solve problems, not create problems. This doesn’t mean I don’t say what I think in closed sessions, but I never come to complain about what I have or don’t have.”
Lastly, the Romanian coach named one Inter starter for tomorrow’s game: “I always have doubts about the line-up because I have to confront the difficulties of a group that always trains at the best. I compare this with the characteristics of the opponents. Today, I’m feeling generous. Luis Henrique will play tomorrow.”