Cristian Chivu shed light on the transformation that led Inter to a resounding 5-2 victory over Roma in the second half. He emphasized the team’s “right spirit” and their intent to “dominate and secure the game.”
After entering the international break with a disappointing two points from three matches, the Nerazzurri delivered a powerful statement with their emphatic 5-2 defeat of Roma this evening.
Lautaro Martinez, returning from a calf injury sustained on February 18, made an immediate impact by scoring two goals. Hakan Calhanoglu contributed a spectacular long-range strike from over 35 yards, complemented by goals from Marcus Thuram and Nicolò Barella.
Chivu on Inter’s Resurgent Performance
Speaking to DAZN Italia, Chivu expressed his delight at Lautaro’s return, Marcus’s goal and assist, Barella’s strike, and Denzel Dumfries’ excellent performance, also acknowledging the contributions of Diouf, Frattesi, and those who didn’t feature.
The third goal, scored early in the second half, marked a crucial turning point, prompting enthusiastic celebrations from the bench.
Chivu elaborated that this was precisely what the team was asked to do at half-time: “to adopt the correct mindset immediately after the break, to finalize the game, and to score more goals.”
“You can see the maturity evolving within this team on the pitch,” Chivu noted. “In recent matches, we had moments of hesitation when we tried to defend a lead, which was a mistake. Tonight, however, we approached the second half with the right spirit, aiming to dominate and decisively win the match.”
Gian Piero Gasperini acknowledged that Roma played well in the first half, pushing Inter back, until Calhanoglu’s sudden, long-range strike changed the dynamic.
Chivu explained: “Pressing Roma high is challenging due to their constant movement, vacating the midfield to exploit the flanks with their wingbacks. We were concerned about them getting the ball to Malen, which led to Calhanoglu playing deeper and struggling to contain Pisilli, who was dictating the pace. In the second half, we demonstrated greater courage, breaking their defensive lines, moving the ball with increased speed, and advancing our playmaker. Roma’s players are adept at finding space and setting up attackers when given time. We intensified our effort, increased our sprints to contest possession, resulting in a significantly improved second half.”
A notable moment occurred in the second half when Alessandro Bastoni received a standing ovation from the San Siro crowd upon his substitution. There had been concerns about how the defender would recover from the emotional impact of being sent off during Italy’s World Cup play-off loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina, especially after previous media criticism for an incident involving Pierre Kalulu of Juventus. Amid reports that Bastoni might seek a move to Barcelona to escape this “toxic atmosphere,” the outpouring of support from the fans was particularly encouraging.
When asked if intense pressure contributed to Italian football’s difficulties, Chivu remarked, “I don’t possess a magic wand to fix everything, but what I can say is that we all share responsibility for what transpires in football – coaches, players, journalists, and social media. Criticism and negativity often garner more attention. We must remember that football is fundamentally a game. Having worked in youth academies for a couple of years, I’ve witnessed truly shocking things. We are all accountable, and therefore, we must adjust our approach to this magnificent sport that generates such passion from children and loyal fans, rather than focusing on those who merely wish ill upon others or hurl insults at opponents.”
