The eve of Inter vs. Shakhtar Donetsk, Matchday 3 of the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League League Phase.
Ahead of the clash with the Ukrainian side, Nerazzurri Head Coach Cristian Chivu, joined by Alessandro Bastoni, will take questions from the media in a press conference live from the Inter Training Center: Do you think it is right to combine last season’s defeats with this season’s Champions League losses? “I’ve never counted them myself, but if the figures are brought to my attention, I have to respond. There’s no need to keep reminding us of it. We’ve lost two matches this season and we need to rediscover our energy and the right feelings, which go hand in hand with our ambitions. We must focus on what needs to be done tomorrow and be ready in every respect: mentally, physically and tactically.”
What happened at half-time in Bologna? “I speak quietly, raise my voice, laugh and joke, but I do the same things I do at home with my children. The love I feel for my players is very close to the love I feel for my family. That doesn’t change, whether I speak quietly or get angry.”
How can you turn difficult starts to matches into a different attitude? “I’m pleased when a player takes responsibility, but I’m the one primarily responsible. Perhaps I’m not managing to communicate what’s needed. It works both ways; it’s not an issue that concerns only them. If we had an important season last year, it was because every member of the group took responsibility.”
What kind of match do you expect? “Shakhtar are a strong team. They play in the Champions League, and every team in this competition is tactically developed and has quality, experience, technically gifted players, pace and intensity, as well as a coach who sets them up well. They bring plenty of intensity, both on and off the ball. We have to be ourselves, with confidence in what we’ve earned over time, while also recognising that what we’ve done in the past counts for less. What matters is today, as we prepare for tomorrow.”
Has someone from this team putting themselves forward as a Champions League contender caused damage? Why did it happen? “I answered this a few weeks ago, saying that when questions are asked, we respond out of politeness and duty. We’ve never said that we have to win it; we’ve said that it’s a dream. Right now, after two defeats, we must think only about tomorrow. The priority is to win a match first and foremost, and that means tomorrow’s game.”
What do you think needs to change? “I was talking about myself and what I can do better to communicate certain things and remove others: bring more attention, more concern and more motivation, and see whether I can be more involved in preparing for a match and reading it as it unfolds. I never point the finger at my players. I take responsibility for what happens on the pitch, especially the negative aspects and individual mistakes. I’m their coach, and it’s important to understand that this group has been playing under pressure for several years. That’s a credit to them, because they’ve earned that reputation from the outside. They’ve been competitive for seven years. It’s my job to take responsibility for certain things. I understand what they’re experiencing, and the coach has to be the main person held accountable. I’m the one who needs to improve first.”
How can a coach change a team’s attitude at half-time? “I don’t know. What are we talking about? If we start badly, is it my fault, but if we change the outcome at half-time, is it down to me? It’s a combination of things. You understand certain aspects of the game and react to the opposition while maintaining your own identity, which is also something we’re trying to add to this team. Half-time helps us understand how the match is unfolding, but the players deserve credit for reacting and adapting to the opposition, their qualities and their ability. We don’t play alone; we play against tactically developed teams who give everything against us because everyone wants to beat us. It’s been that way for seven years. A match presents different challenges, even when things go against you. What matters is how you react and understand the difficulties, so that you can find the balance and maturity needed to get the result.”
Do you think comebacks after going behind are more about mentality or balance on the pitch? “I don’t think I’m arrogant. We talk too much about nothing and are always looking for the negatives. I’m an optimist by nature, because that’s how I’m made. I look at the positives and at how we respond to conceding goals. I need to analyse in depth why it happens, but I don’t want to discuss it. I’m responsible for everything that doesn’t work; the credit belongs to the players and their maturity, because they understand how to react and what they need to do during a match. The ideal situation is not to concede, but we’re not perfect, either as a team or as individuals. There are things that affect the course of a match, but what matters to me is that the group does everything it can to get the result. I don’t want defeats to become tragedies, because they aren’t and they won’t be. I have the feeling that we’re expected to meet certain obligations while others aren’t, and that isn’t right. I have to reassure the players, and they do their best. After that, we can win, lose or draw.”