Inter Milan 5-2 Roma – Cristian Chivu ‘Delighted’ With Argentina & France Stars & Admits ‘Everyone To Blame For Toxic Environment In Italian Football’ | OneFootball

Cristian Chivu was in a relaxed and effusive mood after Inter Milan’s magnificent 5-2 Easter Sunday demolition of Roma: praising Marcus Thuram, Lautaro Martinez and the entire squad while delivering a characteristically honest assessment of the toxic climate surrounding Italian football.

The Inter head coach arrived at his DAZN interview with a lightness of spirit that reflected the scale of the performance.

He even opened with a quip about his dishevelled appearance after an intense evening on the touchline, via FCInterNews.

“What was I talking about? First I wanted to know if hairdressers are open tomorrow, then I asked if I could take my jacket off. I am unwatchable, I have a helmet on my head again.”

On the match itself, Chivu traced the turning point with precision.

“It was what I asked at half-time and we did it very well, scoring two goals immediately afterwards. The team always gives signs of maturity, perhaps recently they speculated a little too much, something we should not do. But today we came out with the desire to dominate and close the game.”

He was then asked to reflect on the first fifteen minutes, when Roma’s system caused Inter genuine problems.

His tactical breakdown was revealing.

“Going to press Roma is not simple for me, they empty the midfield, one midfielder goes into build-up and the other rotates wide.

“They have triple width and we were concerned by the play around Malen. Calhanoglu was playing a little lower than needed for his teammates’ demands and was struggling against Pisilli.”

The second half, he explained, required courage.

“We broke their lines by sliding faster and going forward with our play. Then we contained Roma’s possession more, we were more aggressive and contested the ball better. We had an excellent second half in that respect.”

Inter 5-2 Roma – Chivu Praises Thuram & Lautaro & Delivers Verdict On Toxic Climate In Italian Football

On the difficult atmosphere surrounding Italian football after the World Cup elimination and the broader negativity of recent weeks, Chivu was reflective and unflinching.

Indeed, refusing to point fingers at any single group while accepting collective responsibility.

“I do not have a magic wand,” he said.

“What I know is that we are all guilty of what happens in our football, coaches, players, journalists sometimes, the world of social media.

“Sometimes people enjoy exalting negative things, whereas football should always be a game. From the youth sector, where I spent several years, things happen that surprise you.

“We are all guilty. We must change our approach to this beautiful game that makes children and supporters fall in love, those who love the shirt, not those who put the evil eye on everything and say things that cannot be repeated.”

On his players, Chivu’s joy was genuine and inclusive.

“Yes, I am delighted to have Lautaro back, just as I am delighted for Thuram who scored and assisted, for Barella who scored, for Dumfries who had an excellent second half.

“But the same applies to Frattesi, Diouf and Luis Henrique, those who did not come onto the pitch.”

It was the response of a coach who sees the entire group, not just the names on the scoresheet, and whose message, after a night like this, could not have been clearer.