Cristian Chivu, the Inter coach, wants his team to enjoy the Coppa Italia final against Lazio on Wednesday night. He stressed that regardless of the outcome, the 2025-26 season has been excellent for the Nerazzurri.
Chivu’s Message for the Coppa Italia Final: ‘Don’t Be Too Obsessed, Have Fun’
Chivu is on the verge of securing a domestic double in his first full season as a head coach. After taking on his first senior coaching role with Parma last February, he has guided Inter to their 21st Scudetto, having replaced Simone Inzaghi at the end of the 2024-25 campaign.
Adding to Inter’s confidence, they recently defeated their cup final opponents, Lazio, 3-0 at the Stadio Olimpico in Serie A on Saturday. However, Chivu downplayed the significance of this previous victory during his pre-match press conference.
“These are two different games,” Chivu stated. “There are risks when playing against the same team in close succession. You might think it will be easy to replicate Saturday’s performance, but they might find extra motivation. We must remain humble, maintain the right attitude, and acknowledge that we deserved the Scudetto and have reached this Coppa Italia final, which we want to honor in the best possible way. We will definitely be prepared.”
Regarding the fitness of Marcus Thuram, who is a doubt for the final, Chivu provided an update: “He’s doing better and trained with us today. We’ll have another day to assess him tomorrow.”
While Lazio’s coach, Maurizio Sarri, highlighted the importance of a mental approach for his players, Chivu urged his squad to remain calm. “Don’t be too obsessed. We’ve earned everything so far, and we need to maintain the same calmness we’ve had until now. Be calm, smile, and go onto the pitch with the desire to enjoy ourselves, without losing our enthusiasm or humility.”
Similar to Sarri, Chivu believes that winning the Coppa Italia trophy won’t significantly alter his personal perspective on what has already been an impressive season for Inter.
“It doesn’t change anything for me,” Chivu explained. “I’m at a club that aligns with my ambitions and aims to be competitive. From Lautaro’s first interview in America (during pre-season), I understood his mentality, although I already had an idea from previous conversations. The strength of this group lies in its ability to understand and fight for our principles. We often forget that this team has reached multiple European finals and has consistently finished second when not winning the league. Competitiveness has always been present, and that’s what I want.”
When asked about his contribution to Inter, Chivu responded: “Ambition. I understand what it means to be at a club like Inter, the narratives surrounding it, and the negative aspects that can sometimes surface. I’ve tried to calm that down from a human perspective and manage the frustration that comes from external pressures. I’m working with a group of great individuals, genuine people who show pride and know how to stick together.”