Inter, Dumfries compared to de Bruyne, Chivu: “Better angry than resigned” | OneFootball

After Inter's victory against Cremonese, the scene that sparked discussion didn't come from the game itself, but from the moment Denzel Dumfries was substituted.

Inter, Dumfries like de Bruyne, Chivu downplays: “Better an angry player than a resigned one”

The Dutch winger, called back to the bench in the 54th minute, showed clear signs of frustration: a slow exit from the field, a displeased grimace, a hit to the ball, and a few too many words as he returned to the locker room.

In other contexts, such behavior could have sparked a small controversy. But Cristian Chivu chose a completely different path: to immediately quell the disputes, turning the player's anger into a positive signal.

Chivu: “Dumfries is right to be angry, I want him like that”

Questioned after the match, the Inter coach commented on his player's reaction with great calm: “Dumfries is right to be pissed off, he should be. When a player comes off, he should be angry with the world, with me, and with whoever he wants. Denzel is a great person and a punch to the ball means nothing. I am happy with what he is doing.”

A clear message that turns the perspective around. For Chivu, the player's anger is a sign of involvement and a desire to be a protagonist, not of disobedience or disrespect.

“I said I want people pissed off,” added the coach. “If he got pissed off, that's fine. After the match, we shook hands, joked a bit, and that was the end of it.”

From the “De Bruyne case” to the Chivu method: two philosophies compared

Chivu's behavior is markedly different from that shown a few weeks ago by Antonio Conte, after Kevin De Bruyne's irritated reaction to being substituted in the match against Milan.

At that time, the Napoli coach had commented in a much stricter tone: “I hope De Bruyne was upset about the result. If it was for other reasons, he picked the wrong person.”

Conte, although later downplaying the incident, still emphasized that “once you can make a mistake, the second time you cannot.” A rigorous approach, based on discipline and group control, different from Chivu's, who prefers emotional spontaneity as long as it remains within the bounds of mutual respect.

A united and reactive group: the secret of Chivu's Inter

The handling of the “Dumfries case” highlights a key aspect of the new Inter: internal cohesion. Chivu has built a cohesive group, where even tensions are channeled constructively.

The episode with Dumfries, rather than undermining the locker room balance, showcased the solidity of an environment that experiences competition healthily. “My goal is precisely this: to make the players angry, to keep them motivated,” concluded Chivu.

The Romanian coach is demonstrating empathetic leadership, capable of combining firmness and understanding, turning small moments of friction into growth opportunities.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.