Switzerland & Inter Milan Star Praises Cristian Chivu After Verona Win: ‘He Always Tries To Make Us Better’ | OneFootball

Manuel Akanji praised Cristian Chivu and his relentless focus on improvement after Inter Milan narrowly won 2-1 against Hellas Verona at the Stadio Bentegodi.

Akanji underlined how the Romanian coach continues to push his players to grow regardless of the result.

Speaking to DAZN after the match, with quotes via FCInterNews, the Swiss defender reflected on a difficult game that required patience and concentration until the very end.

Inter took the lead through Piotr Zielinski’s stunning first-half strike before a late Martin Frese own goal sealed victory deep into stoppage time.

Akanji also revealed an interesting detail about the closing stages of the match, when Chivu made an unusual defensive adjustment between him and Yann Bisseck.

“Why did Chivu switch me and Bisseck near the end? I don’t know,” he laughed.

“Probably because Bisseck was on a yellow card, so I could take a few more risks against their quick players.”

Verona 1-2 Inter Milan – Akanji Praises Chivu Impact

MILAN, ITALY – OCTOBER 04: Manuel Akanji of Internazionale acknowledges the fans after the team’s victory in 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)

The experienced defender has become one of the cornerstones of Inter’s defensive setup under Chivu, often praised for his intelligence and calmness in pressure situations.

Against Verona, he once again played a crucial role in organising the back line and maintaining composure as Inter looked to close out the win.

Asked about the growing influence of Chivu’s methods, Akanji was full of admiration for his coach’s mentality.

“Of course, his impact is clear,” he said.

“He always tries to make us better: whether we win or lose. Today was a tough match, but we’ll take the positive signs and keep improving.”

Akanji’s comments reflected the mindset Chivu has instilled in the group, one built on accountability, discipline and learning from every performance.

Even in hard-fought victories like this one, the emphasis remains on growth rather than complacency.