Cristian Chivu Hits Back At Critics After Inter Milan Beat Genoa: ‘We’re The Strongest? Five Months Ago You Said We Were Finished’ | OneFootball

Cristian Chivu was in no mood to indulge shifting narratives after Inter Milan’s 2-1 victory away to Genoa, a result that returned the Nerazzurri to the top of the Serie A table and ended a five-year wait for success at the Stadio Ferraris.

Speaking to DAZN immediately after the final whistle, the Inter head coach pushed back at labels and judgments that have followed his side throughout the season.

He instead chose to focus on performance, character and hard-earned point, with quotes via FCInterNews.

For Chivu, Marassi represented one of the more demanding assignments on the calendar.

Not only because of the club’s recent record there but also due to Genoa’s resurgence under Daniele De Rossi.

“I like to talk about the match and the performance. About what we put on the pitch knowing that it’s never easy to play here,” he said.

“For the moment this team is living since De Rossi arrived, for the intensity they bring in a stadium like this with great support. I take the character shown in difficulty, the performance and the three points, which were the most important thing.”

Genoa 1-2 Inter Milan – Chivu Justifies Tactical Adjustments

MILAN, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 30: Christos Zafeiris of SK Slavia Praha competes for the ball with Piotr Zielinski of FC Internazionale during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD2 match between FC Internazionale Milano and SK Slavia Praha at Stadio San Siro on September 30, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Inter’s control of the game for over an hour appeared to put the contest beyond doubt, but Genoa’s late goal forced Chivu into a series of tactical adjustments.

The Romanian coach explained his thinking behind several key decisions, including reshaping his defence and midfield to manage the final stages.

“Because of the booking, I’ll start from the final part of the question,” he said when asked about his substitutions and positional changes.

“On the right they developed less, they had one striker in the middle and the other more towards our left, so I chose Manuel to avoid him duelling with the attackers.”

Chivu also revealed that the attacking changes were not improvised.

Instead they were adapted to the state of the game. “Substitutions are made based on the match, on the energy levels,” he continued.

“I had chosen Bonny earlier. However, we were 2-0 up and then I changed my mind to have fight, speed, attacking depth and structure. Because if we had needed to defend set pieces he would have given us something extra.”

Late on, Inter became more compact as Genoa pushed forward.

“Then we decided to take Zielo off in the final minutes and bring on De Vrij. Moving Manuel into midfield,” Chivu explained. “We were in a 5-4-1, because they could have caused us problems in depth.”

Chivu Hits Back: ‘Five Months Ago You Said We Were Finished…’

MILAN, ITALY – OCTOBER 04: FC Internazionale coach Cristian Chivu looks on before the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and US Cremonese at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on October 04, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Beyond tactics, however, it was the wider discourse surrounding Inter that drew the strongest reaction from Chivu.

Asked about comments from Lautaro Martinez regarding criticism, the Inter coach made it clear that the group remains unmoved by external noise.

“No, it’s our way of seeing things. Of accepting what is said about us knowing what we’re doing. And what we want to do,” he said. “These are words we often use among ourselves.”

Chivu stressed the importance of unity and perspective within the squad. “We know how much the group cares. And indeed how important it is to always be there despite difficulties, labels and what is said,” he added.

“We know how loved Inter is and do our job and our duty. We’re improving, trying to fight against all the negativity and labels. We move forward with awareness and work. That always comes out through the mentality and character this group has had for years.”

The most pointed response came when Chivu addressed the idea that Inter are now being described as the strongest team in Italy.

“Five months ago we were supposed to finish eighth or tenth because we were finished,” he said bluntly.

“We’re fighting, we’re working to do our duty. Is there inconsistency? I don’t know, but certainly coherence must be maintained.”