Sacchi advises Chivu after Inter 1-2 Udinese loss: ‘Get into the players’ heads’ | OneFootball

Arrigo Sacchi believes that Inter are a team in transition, and has given one piece of advice to head coach Cristian Chivu following the team’s 2-1 defeat at home against Udinese in their last Serie A fixture.

Sacchi weighs in on Inter after surprise Udinese defeat

Inter fell to a surprise defeat at home against Kosta Runjaic’s Udinese in the second round of Serie A fixtures last weekend, despite their encouraging 5-0 win over Torino in the opening weekend.

Sacchi, in an in-depth interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, suggests that this Inter side is no longer the same as the one that was coached by Simone Inzaghi last season, but also feels that Chivu has not left his stamp on the side yet either.

MILAN, ITALY – AUGUST 25: Cristian Chivu gestures during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Torino FC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on August 25, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Asked about the criticism that Chivu has received since the Udinese loss, Sacchi said: “It’s inevitable. If you’re the coach of Inter and you lose at home to Udinese, you can’t expect any applause.

“Inter are at a halfway point. It’s no longer Simone Inzaghi’s team, but they’re not yet Cristian Chivu’s. It takes patience.”

Arrigo Sacchi during the Women Supercup match between AS Roma and ACF Fiorentina at Dino Manuzzi Stadium on May 24, 2024 in Cesena, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Sacchi also offered a piece of advice to Chivu: “To Chivu, I would suggest just one thing: Do everything to get into his players’ heads, and convince them to follow the path that he has chosen.

“Against Udinese, I saw a team that was imbalanced and didn’t have much harmony. Harmony and balance are the basis for any great team.”

Sacchi was also asked for his 2025-26 Scudetto prediction, to which he responded: “I’m not a fortune teller, but I’ll go out of my way and say Napoli.”