Cristian Chivu Throws Turkey Midfielder’s Supercoppa Italiana Availability Into Doubt: “To Be Evaluated” | OneFootball

Inter Milan manager Cristian Chivu is unsure whether Hakan Calhanoglu would be ready for the upcoming Supercoppa Italiana.

During last night’s conference via FCInterNews, the 45-year-old delivered an update on the Turkish midfielder’s fitness.

Hakan Calhanoglu was on the sidelines as Inter squeezed past Genoa on Sunday evening to regain top spot in Serie A.

Indeed, the 31-year-old sustained a muscle injury against Liverpool last week, forcing him to skip yesterday’s game.

Despite Calhanoglu’s absence, Inter beat Genoa 2-1 at Stadio Luigi Ferraris.

Yann Bisseck and Lautaro Martinez were on the scoresheet for the Nerazzurri, while Piotr Zielinski deputized for the Turk.

However, with the Italian Super Cup around the corner, Chivu is desperate to have his talismanic playmaker back from injury.

Inter will take on reigning Coppa Italia champions Bologna in an exciting semi-final in Riyadh this Friday.

But they might be without the former AC Milan star.

Cristian Chivu Unsure Whether Hakan Calhanoglu Will Feature in Supercoppa Italiana

VERONA, ITALY – NOVEMBER 02: Hakan Calhanoglu of FC Internazionale during the Serie A match between Hellas Verona FC and FC Internazionale at Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi on November 02, 2025 in Verona, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Asked to provide an update on Matteo Darmian and Calhanoglu, Cristian Chivu replied: “Darmian will travel with us, but he won’t be fit.

“Calhanoglu has a minor issue that will be assessed over the next few days.”

Then, Chivu hailed his entire squad, refusing to praise just Bisseck, who was superb last night.

“You talk about Bisseck, but I also want to mention De Vrij, Frattesi, and all the others.

“It’s a healthy group with a lot of desire and quality. They can do even better, and that’s the most important thing.

“Perfection doesn’t exist,” Chivu added. “I liked the performance in a difficult stadium against a team that’s been in good shape since the new coach arrived.

“We showed quality and character, which is fundamental because we raised the intensity of our work, also from a competitive standpoint.

“We conceded a goal we should have avoided. There were a few risks we didn’t need to take.”

Cristian Chivu Rubs Inter Milan Win into Critics’ Faces

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – JUNE 21: Cristian Chivu, Head Coach of FC Internazionale Milano, looks on during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group E match between FC Internazionale Milano and Urawa Red Diamonds at Lumen Field on June 21, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)

Chivu hit back at critics who wrote Inter off months ago.

“We’ll take the performance, the character, and the work done over these months.

“Everything that we are, despite a few months ago, people writing us off or putting us eighth in the table.

“Instead, with work and with the quality this group has, we go toe to toe every time, and we’ll always try to do our best.”

Finally, he delivered his verdict on Inter’s disjointed display in the final half-hour.

“From a competitive point of view, we showed our mantra of raising the intensity for all 90 minutes,” he cnontinued. “We’ve been doing it for a while now.

“We did it against Lazio, Como, in Madrid and against Liverpool.

“Then this is a team with quality, and if a bit of ruthlessness in front of goal is missing, that’s something to improve.

“Sometimes they do the practical things. In the end, I was a player too, and I know it’s not easy to take certain things away.

“But since we arrived, the lads have listened to me and have always tried to meet my demands in terms of character.”