Inter out, Chivu defends rotation: Lautaro benched after 8 in 20 days | OneFootball

The Super Cup slips away from the penalty spot, but Cristian Chivu isn't looking for scapegoats. The Inter coach presents himself to the SportMediaset microphones with his usual clarity, analyzing the semifinal defeat against Vincenzo Italiano's Bologna, avoiding clichés and nipping any controversy in the bud.

Bologna in the final, Inter at home. Chivu: “We leave with our heads held high. I have 25 starters and I need them all”

The Nerazzurri coach takes the bitter ending with philosophy: “Penalty shootouts are a lottery, it's something you can't train for. I'm satisfied just seeing the courage and personality to step up and take them.” More than the result, Chivu focuses on the performance: “Today the boys played a great match, especially in the second half I saw the things I always want from my team. I have nothing to regret or complain about, we move forward.” No excuses even for the questionable incidents: “Referee? I don't talk about decisions, they have VAR and can review everything. I have to focus on our growth, mistakes can happen on all sides.”

The hot topic of the evening is the initial exclusion of the big names, especially captain Lautaro Martinez, but also Akanji and Calhanoglu. Chivu explains that it wasn't about underestimating the commitment: “I can't afford to think about the final before playing. The truth is that tonight was the eighth match in 20 days and Lautaro played them all. He also needs rest, and we can't afford to lose players along the way. We have a very intense January ahead.”

The final remark is a message of unity to the group in view of the rest of the season: “The goalkeeper Martinez? No, I'm talking about the squad in general. I have 25 players who all deserve to play, they are great champions and need confidence to feel like protagonists. The team has big ambitions and since the season is long, everyone is needed.”

Andrea Alati

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.