Inter Milan 1-3 Arsenal – Cristian Chivu Makes Honest Admission: “We Are Not Yet Accustomed To Certain Types Of Games” | OneFootball

Inter Milan boss Cristian Chivu delivered an honest admission on his side’s disjointed performance in tonight’s 3-1 loss to Arsenal.

Speaking to Sky Sport via FCInterNews, the 45-year-old admitted that the Nerazzurri are not yet ready for matches of this caliber.

Inter’s disastrous run in high-stakes games continued this evening as the Gunners avenged last season’s defeat at San Siro.

Despite scoring in his second Champions League start for the club, Petar Sucic couldn’t prevent another heartbreak.

Indeed, after losing to Atletico Madrid and Liverpool, the Serie A giants suffered a third consecutive European loss.

As a result, Cristian Chivu has become the first Nerazzurri manager since 2011 to lose three Champions League outings on the bounce.

More ominously, Inter are now at risk of missing out on a second successive top-eight finish in the newly formatted league phase.

Furthermore, last season’s finalists head to Signal Iduna Park to face Borussia Dortmund in the final round next week.

Therefore, the situation is far from ideal.

Cristian Chivu Delivers Verdict on Inter Milan 1-3 Arsenal Defeat

GENOA, ITALY – DECEMBER 14: Cristian Chivu, head coach of Inter, reacts during the Serie A match between Genoa CFC and FC Internazionale at Luigi Ferraris Stadium on December 14, 2025 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)

“They were stronger in terms of technique at speed, intensity, and positioning on the pitch,” Chivu admitted.

“Their ideas when attacking the lines and winning second balls were where they arrived with real force.

“We tried to stay in the game and in the first half we produced a good performance; after the 1–1 we could have scored.

“That doesn’t mean we would have won, but moments like that can change the mood of a match.

“We were unlucky with the 2–1: our defence should have cleared the ball off the line, then it hit the crossbar and fell straight onto the head of one of their players.

“In the second half, they raised their level of humility and focus, because in the first half, there was a bit of complacency.

“Then they dropped slightly deeper and showed their structure, physicality, and quality, as well as making the right substitutions to put you under pressure.”

Meanwhile, Chivu refused to take off Luis Henrique despite the Brazilian’s underwhelming attacking performance.

“We did it at the end, I don’t know if it was too late,” the Nerazzurri coach added. “I was thinking about switching to a 4-3-3, but I lacked strength in attack.

“They brought on Gabriel when they saw they were struggling with Pio Esposito. We played with three attackers, two behind a striker.

“Maybe it’s true that we lacked individual actions and crosses on the right.

“However, I don’t want to take anything away from Luis Henrique, who had a good game, or from the lads who stayed focused from start to finish.”

Inter Milan Manager Cristian Chivu Hails Arsenal Strength in Depth

PARIS, FRANCE – MAY 07: Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal, applauds the fans at full-time following the team’s defeat and subsequent elimination after the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Semi Final Second Leg match between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal FC at Parc des Princes on May 07, 2025 in Paris, France. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

Mikel Arteta had the luxury of introducing the likes of Declan Rice, Gabriel Magalhaes, and Viktor Gyokeres in the second half.

Despite their regular first-team status, all three started on the bench tonight, as Arteta decided to give them some rest.

That alone testifies to the remarkable strength of Arsenal’s roster.

“When they press you like that, they have intensity, organisation, and a strong attacking presence in the box thanks to their quality and technique,” Chivu admitted.

“The level of technique they showed impressed me compared to other teams – the decision is always the right one, and they have the speed to find a teammate making a run with a single touch.

“On the right, they also have Saka, who causes you problems. We stayed in the game, and when we won some duels, we created chances.

“But that’s down to Arsenal’s individual and collective quality. I won’t talk about how much they’ve spent.

“Otherwise I’d sound banal, and I’m not complaining.

“The Premier League is a top league in terms of intensity; we’re not yet used to this type of match.

“I try to pass on a bit more in terms of certain plays to execute on the pitch. But it’s not easy.

“We’re trying to continue our growth step by step. It’s important to maintain the belief that what we’re doing is the right thing.”

Chivu Comments on Upcoming Borussia Dortmund vs Inter Milan Clash

GENOA, ITALY – DECEMBER 14: Cristian Chivu, head coach of Inter, reacts during the Serie A match between Genoa CFC and FC Internazionale at Luigi Ferraris Stadium on December 14, 2025 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)

Inter will take on Dortmund in a must-win final-day clash in Germany.

Indeed, there will be no margin for error if the Italian heavyweights are to stand a chance of securing a top-eight finish.

However, they will first face Pisa in Serie A next weekend.

“Let’s wait until tomorrow to look at the table and understand whether a win will be enough or not,” Chivu said. “We’re ready for the prospect of playing in the playoffs; it’s two extra matches, but that’s not a problem.

“There’s regret over the games against Atletico Madrid and Liverpool.

“With a bit more maturity, we could have taken something more.

“Maybe across those three matches, we could have got something, perhaps not tonight but in the other two.

“From an attitude and mentality point of view, if we had played Atletico Madrid and Liverpool tonight, the outcome would have been different.

“That’s my assumption based on the growth of this group.

“Despite the difficulties, we played with conviction and accepted the risk against opponents who can beat you one-on-one.