“I can’t change it” – Chivu looks back after three derby defeats to Milan

After last night’s win against Inter, AC Milan have now gone eight games without a defeat in the Derby della Madonnina.

In years gone by, the derby was a result to skip over for Milan. It was a defeat waiting to happen and it seemingly couldn’t be changed and then it flipped. Matteo Gabbia’s goal stopped the streak and in turn, it started a new one.

The Rossoneri entered last night’s game with a run of seven unbeaten and they finished the night with eight unbeaten and a fourth consecutive win. It’s a first in itself for more than 50 years, which is telling.

It’s a result which brought Gerry Cardinale to tears and it’s clear that something has really clicked at San Siro, as the player ratings showed.

Chivu speaks at full-time

Speaking at a press conference after the game, as relayed by MilanNews, the Inter coach spoke about several things, including his unfavourable record in the Derby della Madonnina.

Were there any warning signs?

“Compared to last year, there’s something to note about our approach to matches: the superficiality and casualness with which we handle certain situations, where we lack a bit of grit, a bit of determination, a bit of danger perception. But we need to rediscover them.

“We need to be aware that right now, despite a few more points than last year, we’ve lost something that absolutely needs to be rediscovered.”

Why didn’t you change before?

“I couldn’t, because the forwards have had some problems in the last few days. Bonny only made himself available on the last day after two days with a fever of 39°C and severe nausea and vomiting, so we were forced to find a solution, to make a virtue of necessity, changing the system a bit.

“We knew that, in this type of match, it would be the right thing to have pace on the wings with Spence and Carlos and attack the line a bit more, as well as looking for depth in space with Diouf operating under the striker, looking for both him and Sucic between the lines.

“Unfortunately, sometimes things don’t work out, but, I repeat, we were forced to change.”

Do you need a fifth striker?

“It’s too easy to talk now that Lautaro is injured and the other two forwards aren’t feeling well. These things happen, fortunately not often. We’ll make some assessments, but we’re still happy with our four forwards, in addition to what Lavelli gives us, what Mosconi gives us, and whoever we bring in from the Under 23s.

“But, I repeat, it’s too easy to bring these things up at a time when two forwards aren’t at their best and the third is injured.”

Is there something mental that comes into play in the derby?

“There’s always something mental, I think, and history teaches us this, when you get to play another season after winning.

“So, let’s try not to throw everything away and try to rediscover some determination, some humility in doing certain things, starting with myself, because I’m primarily responsible for everything we do.

“We shouldn’t throw everything away because we’ve reached the tenth matchday and this is the first game we’ve lost. We’ve got 25 points, and last year we’d got fewer, but we’ve always been able to react, we’ve always kept our feet on the ground and our heads down to build a strong season.

“That’s what we’d like to do again this year, because we have this desire and this ambition to have another strong season; we just need to find the way to build it again.”