Inter Milan 2-1 Kairat Almaty – Cristian Chivu Brutally Honest After Nerve-Wracking Win: “I Take All The Blame” | OneFootball

Cristian Chivu admitted that Inter Milan failed to live up to the billing in tonight’s Champions League clash against Kairat Almaty.

Speaking to Prime via FCInterNews, the 45-year-old offered his assessment of Inter’s bleak performance at San Siro.

Lautaro Martinez maintained his outrageous form in the Champions League.

Despite being denied a first-half penalty by VAR, El Toro scored his fourth goal in the ongoing league phase.

Indeed, he showed his ‘killer instincts’ on the stroke of halftime, slotting the ball past Kairat goalkeeper Temirlan Anarbekov to open the scoring.

Though Martinez’s goal was supposed to open the floodgates and crush Kairat’s morale, the visitors fought back after the break.

Captain Ofri Arad became the first player to score against Inter in this season’s Champions League, leveling the score in the 55th minute.

However, Carlos Augusto saved the day with a stunning shot from the edge of the box, sealing Inter’s third consecutive win in all competitions.

As for Lautaro, he returned to the scoresheet for the first time since scoring against Royale Union SG in the last Champions League round.

Therefore, the Argentine superstar halted his three-game scoring drought.

Meanwhile, Cristian Chivu has overseen his third consecutive win in all competitions, setting his team up nicely for the upcoming clash against Lazio.

Cristian Chivu Takes Blame for Inter Milan Underwhelming Performance vs Kairat Almaty

MILAN, ITALY – OCTOBER 04: FC Internazionale coach Cristian Chivu gesturesduring 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)

“I am the first person responsible,” Chivu said after the game. “I take all the blame because I wasn’t able to transmit the importance of the game.

“Maybe someone underestimated it, though I don’t believe so. I also experienced this as a player.

“When you play every three days, it’s always difficult to adjust to the reality of a match like this, where on paper the opponent seems inferior.

“I take the three points and also the responsibility for not being able to transmit a little more something that could have allowed us to perform in a way that put us in a calmer position.

“For me, it’s a lesson, and for everyone,” Chivu added. “I have to do better as coach to transmit the determination and the right attitude.

“I was thinking of that match against Rubin Kazan – a few things came to mind.

“Seeing what happened today, the fact that we couldn’t unlock It earlier and wrap it up gave rise to some ghosts.

“They stayed in the game, caused difficulties.

“We struggled to find the right plays, sometimes in our 3‑man build‑up we kept going back to the goalkeeper without giving him a pass.

“It was hard to express what we had prepared. Now I’m the coach, and the responsibilities are mine.

“I could have done better. I put my face on it; they know that. They are good guys, mature and intelligent.

“They understand what wasn’t right today.”

Cristian Chivu Heaps Praise on Lautaro Martinez

MILAN, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 30: Lautaro Martinez of FC Internazionale celebrates after scoring their team’s third goal 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)

Despite the risk of overexertion, Chivu trusted Lautaro to start his eight competitive game in a row.

Meanwhile, the Argentine superstar repaid that trust with yet another Champions League.

“A player, I believe, will never allow himself to come and ask me to play,” Chivu continued. “It was my idea to start him and make him play 45 minutes because I know how important it is for a forward to come out of bad thoughts.

“Then he, as captain and leader, scored and we are all happy.

“But I was even more pleased when he made that sliding tackle near the corner. This is the spirit that we all must have.

“Football is also happiness; it’s a game. You shouldn’t see ghosts.

“He, like many others, is important; you have to play with a smile. They have only the obligation to give the maximum of what they can on that day.”