Chivu: ‘Inter had right spirit and wanted to dominate’ Roma | OneFootball

Cristian Chivu explains what changed when Inter ran riot to beat Roma 5-2 in the second half. ‘We had the right spirit, trying to dominate and kill off the game.’

If the Nerazzurri had limped into the break for international duty with just two points from three rounds, they made a statement this evening with a 5-2 hammering of Roma.

Lautaro Martinez had not played since his calf injury on February 18, but made an immediate impact with two goals, while Hakan Calhanoglu scored a screamer from at least 35 yards, along with Marcus Thuram and Nicolò Barella strikes.

Chivu set tone for Inter restart

MILAN, ITALY – APRIL 05: Cristian Chivu, Head Coach of FC Internazionale Milano, gives the team instructions during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and AS Roma at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on April 05, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

“I am very happy to have Lautaro back, happy to see Marcus score and assist, to see Barella score, to see Denzel Dumfries play so well, also Diouf, Frattesi, those who didn’t play tonight,” Chivu told DAZN Italia.

The turning point that got everyone on the bench celebrating wildly was the third goal at the dawn of the second half.

“It was what we asked at half-time, to have the right approach straight out from the break, to finish off the game and score more goals,” continued Chivu.

“You realise what is happening on the field, that there are signs of maturity from this team. There were some wobbles in recent matches, when we tried to sit on the result and we shouldn’t have done that.

“This evening, we came out for the second half with the right spirit, trying to dominate and kill off the game.”

MILAN, ITALY – APRIL 05: Nicolo Barella of FC Internazionale Milano is congratulated by Cristian Chivu, Head Coach of FC Internazionale Milano, after scoring his team’s fifth goal during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and AS Roma at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on April 05, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Gian Piero Gasperini said that Roma had a good first half and were pushing Inter back, until that sudden Calhanoglu strike from a huge distance.

“It’s not easy to press Roma high, because they move around so much, empty out the middle to attack you down the flanks with those wingbacks,” replied Chivu.

“We were a little worried about them getting the ball to Malen, so Calhanoglu was sitting a little deep and struggling to close down Pisilli, who was controlling the tempo. We showed more courage in the second half and broke their lines, moving the ball faster, and pushing our playmaker into a more advanced role.

“When you allow Roma players time and space, they are so good at finding the spaces and setting up their strikers. We stepped up a gear, had more sprints to compete for the ball, and it was a very good second half.”

There was also a special moment in the second half when Alessandro Bastoni received a standing ovation from the San Siro crowd as he was substituted.

It was not clear how the defender would handle the trauma of being sent off in Italy’s World Cup play-off defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina, having already been criticised so much in the media for getting Pierre Kalulu red carded for Juventus with a simulation.

With reports Bastoni is pushing to leave Italy entirely for a move to Barcelona due to that toxic atmosphere, this show of support was reassuring.

MILAN, ITALY – APRIL 05: Cristian Chivu, Head Coach of Inter, looks on from the team bench prior to the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and AS Roma at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on April 05, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

“I don’t have a magic wand to fix all that is wrong, but what I can say is that we are all responsible for what happens in football,” noted Chivu when asked if the pressure is part of the reason Italian football has struggled.

“That means coaches, players, journalists, social media, because criticism and negativity gets more attention. We must remember that football is a game, from the youth academy where I fortunately worked for a couple of years and saw some things that would shock you.

“We are all guilty, so we must change the approach to this wonderful sport that elicits such love from kids, the fans who cheer on their team, and not those who just wish ill on others, aim insults and worse at their opponents.”