Chivu ‘smoked three cigarettes one after the other’ after Inter’s loss in Madrid | OneFootball

Cristian Chivu was so frustrated by Inter’s defeat against Atletico Madrid last night that he ‘smoked three cigarettes one after the other’ at full-time.

The Nerazzurri boss took a while to show up in front of cameras last night as club directors, staff members and players held a meeting in the dressing room at the Estadio Metropolitano after a 2-1 Champions League loss against Atletico Madrid.

Inter’s first Champions League defeat in 2025-26

MILAN, ITALY – OCTOBER 29: FC Internazionale coach Cristian Chivu looks on during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and ACF Fiorentina at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on October 29, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

It marked Inter’s fifth defeat across all competitions and the first one in the Champions League this season.

As it had already happened against Milan on Sunday, Inter had more shots on target than their opponents last night, but still lost the match.

Chivu’s cigarette admission after Inter’s loss

MILAN, ITALY – NOVEMBER 05: Cristian Chivu, Head Coach of Internazionale, looks on prior to the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD4 match between FC Internazionale Milano and FC Kairat Almaty at Stadio San Siro on November 05, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Chivu examined the team’s performance in a post-match interview with Amazon Prime Video, but the first thing he said (via TMW) was: “I smoked three cigarettes one after the other and I told the team what I had to say.

“There is a lot of regret because we didn’t deserve to lose, but fortunately, we’ve come away with almost nothing.

MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 26: Piotr Zielinski of Internazionale scores his team’s first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD5 match between Atletico de Madrid and FC Internazionale Milano at Estadio Metropolitano on November 26, 2025 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

“I saw great bitterness in the players’ eyes, but this is football and we must react by doing anything to get out of this situation.”

Inter have already lost five games across all competitions this season and their next match is away at Pisa this coming Sunday.