Cristian Chivu admits Inter felt the pressure in the Champions League against Shakhatar Donetsk and explains his choices. ‘We were ready to suffer and it’s something we lacked before.’
The Nerazzurri had another disappointing performance in the Champions League, having lost the first two games of this season and seven of the last eight in the competition.
However, even after Alessandro Bastoni saw red for two yellow cards in quick succession, they scraped a victory with Carlos Augusto running onto the Henrikh Mkhitaryan pass to flick the finish past the on-rushing goalkeeper.
It was far from a convincing display from Inter, who if anything did better after going a man down, as they rarely created scoring opportunities, nor did they dominate possession.
Chivu sees Inter response
“I think our Champions League results in the last year and a half left some traces and it showed in the first half,” Chivu told Sky Sport Italia.
Including last season, Inter lost seven of their last eight Champions League games going into this evening, so the pressure was weighing on them.
“It wasn’t a bad start, but as the match went on, we got a bit worried about maintaining organisation against a quality side that can pass it well. We did hold back a bit, but rediscovered a little energy, mobility and the right runs with the triple substitution.
“After that, we went down to 10 men and were able to add that something extra we had been lacking. We rolled our sleeves up, realised we needed to do everything to stay united. It’s not always the prettiest football that gets you results, sometimes you need heart and mentality, accepting that extra effort. It’s what the lads did this evening.”
There was squad rotation as well as the absence of injured Lautaro Martinez, Benjamin Pavard, Curtis Jones and John Stones, including the first Inter start for Djed Spence.
“We are all important and aware that it is a long season, there’s a game every three days, so you need fresh legs to maintain that level. Sometimes experience can be enough to bring a result home if the game isn’t of a high intensity,” noted Chivu.
“In the Champions League, you can’t do that, you’ve got to run fast, think fast, have the right confidence to do certain things. We were ready to suffer this evening and I feel that was something we’d lacked before.”
The Inter defence was reshuffled yet again tonight, with Bastoni moved to the centre of a three-man line, Carlos Augusto on the left and Manuel Akanji on the right.
“At this moment, we only have three centre-backs and if needed Carlos Augusto. We had prepared to pass it around to break through their compact four-man defence, hoping that Akanji could have more positional play and Carlos give us something more in mobility,” explained the coach.
“It’s because we were worried by Shakhtar Donetsk’s counter-attacking capabilities, the way they attack the line. We had chosen Spence for the same reason, so he could have pace and cover the quick wingers.
“We are adapting to the problems and injuries, trying also to rest Bisseck because it was the third game in a few days. Until the others recover, we’ve got to make some choices and try to balance them out.”