Chivu, dig at Juventus and AC Milan: “Head-to-head clashes? They finished a long way behind.” Last year, 3 points from 12
A swipe from the Romanian manager at their historic rivals, against whom he struggled last year.
Self-awareness, perhaps, or a slightly exposed nerve? The phrase "head-to-head" still sticks in the throat for Cristian Chivu and his Inter, despite the double triumph of the Serie A title and the Coppa Italia. Tomorrow at San Siro, the Romanian comes up against Max Allegri's Napoli, who in Diavolo guise won both derbies last year and left Inter with only crumbs, never allowing them to lay a glove on them.
Three points out of 12
Against city rivals and Juventus, Inter endured a grim year in the traditional heavyweight clashes: two defeats to AC Milan, a bitter 4-3 loss as early as the third matchday against Tudor, who was later sacked, and the controversial win at San Siro shaped by Kalulu's red card and Bastoni escaping a dismissal. Just three points from 12 available, which probably still disturbs Chivu's sleep despite the two trophies.
Achilles heel
In his first season as Inter manager, there is no doubt that his Achilles heel as the former Parma coach was precisely the clashes against sides of a similar level, at least on paper: not Como and Roma, with Fabregas and Gasperini beaten four times out of four, but once against Napoli and three times against their historic rivals, on top of the defeats in the Champions League to the so-called big sides.
"So far behind"
Chivu answered with a touch of irony, and a hint of bitterness, when the question came: "I hadn’t missed these two words… And what does 'head-to-head clash' even mean? Facing the traditionally big teams in general, or only the teams who finish in the top four? So where do we put AC Milan and Juventus, given that last year they finished so far behind. Aren’t those head-to-head clashes any more? Are Napoli and Como head-to-head clashes instead? In reality, for me they are all head-to-head clashes, even against the sides at the bottom…"
