Of
Paolo Tomaselli
For a novice in the Scudetto fight on the bench and at the microphones, Inter’s Romanian coach never ceases to amaze. And the response to Conte (“If you want to make a mess, I won’t do it. I want to convey values because you can play football even without mixing it with other things that leave a smell…”) says a lot about him…
Chivu who doesn’t respond to Conte “because I don’t care what he says”. Chivu who then argues and actually relaunches with weighty words: «If you want to make a mess, I won’t do it. I want to convey values because you can play football even without mixing it with other things that leave a smell… Whoever wants to make a mess, go ahead.” For a novice in the championship fight on the bench and at the microphones, the Romanian never ceases to amazeshowing his “do-gooder” side which in reality brings with it a severe, almost harsh approach, like an old boy who grew up beyond the Wall.
Chivu’s style had already been seen in Naples, after an unfortunate penalty that had split the match, which then deservedly ended 3-1 for the Italian champions: «I want to change the culture you have here, I’m not talking about referees, because my dignity is more important. No excuses, I don’t cry out of consistency.” Chivu is in one piece therefore, even if he too sometimes exaggerates in playing hide and seek, when he repeats that «in the summer they thought we were failures, from eighth to tenth place». A sentence that is not apparent in the documents, unless the coach reads the comments on social media, as footballers too often do. It is still too early to emulate Inzaghi who in the last two years had given up the game of passing the buck for the championship, repeating “we are the favourites, we are not hiding”.
Also because last year the favorites Inter didn’t go well and Conte won in a sprint, with 19 games less to go. This year Antonio feels the fatigue, looks at the infirmary and claims the role of eternal outsider, which has always exalted him even if it is “Napoli the clear favourite” as Marotta reiterated, who knows both the game and the players on the pitch perfectly. The novice Chivu on the other hand – for consistency – is waiting to win a championship clash to take on some more responsibility. Right so. On January 11th there is Inter-Napoli and we will see who is bluffing a little better. But the challenge has already begun.
December 30, 2025 (changed December 30, 2025 | 07:07)
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