Chivu calls for a more ‘provincial’ Inter to rewrite their derby history
The derby is a test for the Inter manager too
Gerry Cardinale's words underline the importance of this Milan-Inter derby, but Cristian Chivu's may be even more revealing. They perhaps expose a raw nerve in a remarkable season that has led him to win the Serie A title and Coppa Italia in his first real experience.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of the city derby, the Inter manager even changed his tone, asking his team to show something he has rejected until now: "a bit of provincial mentality".
Three derbies and no wins
Chivu has struggled in big matches at Inter so far, both in Italy and in the Champions League. Three derbies in the dugout have brought him no wins.
Last season, both city derbies in Serie A ended in 1-0 defeats, with goals from Pulisic and Estupinan sealing two wins for Massimiliano Allegri. In the summer, Chivu's first meeting with Amorim, albeit a friendly in Perth, Australia, ended 1-1 after Nkunku's penalty cancelled out Dimarco's goal.
“Provincialism”
He said: "It's an important match for us, for them and for the city. The league table doesn't matter; nothing matters. If we've gone 7 matches without winning the derby, we have to ask ourselves why.
It all starts with balance, with what you have in your head and in your legs. You have to know how to make the right choices, when you can do certain things and when you can't. We need to add a little something in every respect compared with the past.
We need to show a bit of a provincial mentality when we don't have the ball; I told them that today too. We need organisation and the ability to roll up our sleeves, without thinking that we have players who can sort things out individually".
A change of direction in communication
In press conferences, Chivu has always championed a vision of an Inter side who play their own way, regardless of the opposition. He asks his players for boldness, vertical play, quality and control, and has shown those same qualities when speaking to the press.
Something has changed ahead of the derby. The league table puts pressure on AC Milan, but Chivu faces it in the dugout too. His pressure is less obvious, but just as intense.
