AC Milan Vs Inter Milan – Nerazzurri Treble Winner Praises Coach Cristian Chivu & Hails Poland Midfielder | OneFootball

Wesley Sneijder has delivered a passionate endorsement of Cristian Chivu and his Inter Milan side ahead of Sunday’s derby, backing his former treble-winning teammate to take a decisive step toward the Scudetto tonight while reserving special praise for Piotr Zielinski as the key man of the season.

The Dutch legend spoke to Gazzetta dello Sport via FCInter1908, with the infectious enthusiasm of someone who never truly left the club, and his admiration for what Chivu has built in his debut season was genuine and unguarded.

Sneijder placed the achievement in its proper emotional context.

Inter arrived at the start of this season with a squad still carrying the weight of recent heartbreak, and transforming that into a ten-point lead at the top of the table is no small feat.

Sneijder Hails Chivu Transformation At Inter Milan & Praises Poland Star Zielinski

VERONA, ITALY – NOVEMBER 02: Cristian Chivu head coach of FC Internazionale during the Serie A match between Hellas Verona FC and FC Internazionale at Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi on November 02, 2025 in Verona, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

“Chivu inherited a team with a broken heart after enormous disappointments,” Sneijder said.

“He has transformed the squad into a machine. In Italy they always win and, seeing the gap to the rivals, you think it is normal, almost easy. It is exactly the opposite, it is really difficult to leave rivals ten points behind. Cristian has been brilliant.”

He also revealed the warmth that exists within the treble-winning group.

“In our ‘Treble’ chat we all write to him after every victory. We are linked for life, the success of one is the success of all.”

On Zielinski, Sneijder was equally effusive.

“Last year I was asking myself, why doesn’t he play? Now the ball always passes through him. He is the key man of this year.”

His assessment of the midfield battle was sharp too.

“Milan is a clever team, it has the character of its coach, knows how to sit back and punish you. But Inter is superior in possession.” On Pio Esposito, Sneijder was characteristically warm.

“Pio is the blessing of Italy, the striker that was missing. He is already ready.”

And on the broader outlook for the club, he pointed excitedly to Aleksandar Stankovic’s development at Bruges.

“Stankovic the son is becoming stronger than Stankovic the father. I hope Inter bring him home.”