Dutch Wingback Heaps Praise On New Inter Milan Manager: “Happy To Have Him As Coach” | OneFootball

Inter Milan wingback Denzel Dumfries is proud to have the chance to work under Cristian Chivu at San Siro.

During his latest interview via FCInterNews, the Dutchman also outlined Inter’s Champions League ambitions.

The Nerazzurri will embark on their first European campaign under Cristian Chivu tomorrow.

Indeed, the San Siro powerhouse will take on Ajax at the start of the 2025/26 league phase.

It won’t only be Dumfries’ return to his homeland. It will be a chance to renew hostilities with the Lancers, as he previously played for PSV Eindhoven.

Meanwhile, Chivu will return to his old stomping ground.

The 44-year-old played for Ajax between 1999 and 2003 before moving to Serie A to join Roma.

However, it’s now a distant memory.

Chivu is about to make his managerial debut in the Champions League.

Indeed, the 44-year-old will coach Inter in his first-ever match at Europe’s top table tomorrow.

Denzel Dumfries Hails Inter Milan Boss Cristian Chivu

MILAN, ITALY – AUGUST 25: Cristian Chivu, Head Coach of Internazionale, gestures during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Torino FC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on August 25, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

“It’s nice to share that past,” Denzel Dumfries said. “I’ve even seen Chivu’s face on the walls here, we know the Dutch school of football.

“Ajax is always a good side; they also have a lot of individual quality. I followed their start to the season, and they have a good idea of how to play.

“We’ve lost two out of three, it didn’t start the way we wanted. But we have a lot of experience, we’ve played together for a long time, and we want to get back on track.

“Now there’s another competition, we have to start well. It all depends on us – we have to show what we’re worth.

“We’ve lost two games, it’s a shame, but everyone knows him as a winner, and he tries to pass that on to the players.

“We tried to start Serie A by setting a good example, and I’m happy to have him as a coach.”

Then, he confirmed he and Chivu never met during the latter’s time in the Netherlands.

“No, but in the Netherlands, he’s a very well-known name. I was too young to have seen him play.”

Champions League Goal & Domestic Struggles

MILAN, ITALY – NOVEMBER 26: Denzel Dumfries of FC Internazionale in action during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD5 match between FC Internazionale Milano and RB Leipzig at Stadio San Siro on November 26, 2024 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

“We play the Champions League to win it. We have a great squad,” Dumfries added. “For me, it’s not about doing better than last year.

“We’re a big club and we can win the Champions League. But it’s a tough competition, and we have to give everything starting tomorrow.”

Asked why Ajax should fear Inter, he replied: “I don’t know. We have a lot of experience, a squad that knows what to do, even if the start wasn’t good.

“The Champions League is a huge competition, and we want to honor the shirt. Tomorrow we want to win.”

However, Dumfries also admitted that Inter have not been at their best this season.

“We didn’t start the league the way we wanted,” he claimed. “But it’s up to us to improve and find the right motivation.

“We’re a squad with great experience and character, we look each other in the eyes, and we know there’s a lot we need to get better at.”

Defensive issues plagued Inter in matches against Udinese and Juventus.

“Yes, we talked about the goals we’ve let in, and for me, we need to read the match better.

“For example, against Juve we played really well – if you look at possession, we did what we were supposed to.

“However, we conceded at the wrong moment. Hopefully, we’ll learn to manage those moments better in the coming games.

“If you look at the game against Juve, there were situations where we conceded goals too easily.

“We worked on that and told ourselves we need to improve. But our style of play was dominant – we lost it in the details.