Inter Milan Treble Hero Argues B-Teams ‘Vital’ For Nerazzurri In Modern Football | OneFootball

Former Nerazzurri defender and youth team coach Christian Chivu believes that creating a b-team is “vital” for Inter Milan.

The Romanian spoke to Italian outlet FCInterNews. He also compared the Nerazzurri of this season to the team that he had played for.

Chivu spent three seasons in charges of Inter’s Primavera or Under-19 team.

The former defender had previously enjoyed a highly successful playing career with Ajax, Roma, and Inter, with whom he won the European Treble during the 2000-10 season.

Chivu brought through a number of significant names in his three seasons in charge of the Primavera team.

These included midfielders Cesare Casadei, Giovanni Fabbian, and Aleksandar Stankovic among others.

This season, Slovenian midfielder Luka Topalovic has been a standout.

Christian Chivu: “B-Team Vital For Inter Milan”

Inter are reportedly aiming to create a “B-team.” This would be in line with what a number of other top clubs around Europe have.

Chivu argued that this would be “vital, because players who go on to play at a high level come through youth academies.”

“We need to implement a culture where there is planning for the career of young athletes every step of the way.”

“It’s a great responsibility,” Chivu said of stewarding younger players.”

“You don’t just raise footballers but also young men. You have to teach them discipline, determination, and not just the tactical aspect.”

Chivu argued that “An intermediate step is important.”

“That’s proven by the difficulties players often have when they go on loan to Serie C, or if they’re lucky, Serie B.”

“You need to have more courage to allow the young players to debut,” Chivu argued.

“And then you give yourself the opportunity to take advantage of what they can provide.”

“In my view a young player in that improves quicker than going on loan to other teams. There, after the team loses two or three matches the coach starts to choose other players.”

As far as whether any former Inter Primavera players would have been able to make an impact at senior level, Chivu said that “I can’t say about things like that.”

“I can only say that in working with the youth academy I’ve seen a lot of young talents who sometimes need some kind of push.”

“I can’t say what the club’s plan is at a corporate level,” Chivu noted.

“But Inter are doing a great job. They make the young players visible, they get them involved, put them in matchday squads.”

“Then of course, having a squad of top-level professionals, it’s harder for them to make their debuts,” Chivu noted.

Inter Milan “Have What It Takes” To Repeat Treble

Meanwhile, Chivu said that “hopefully” Inter can repeat the feat of the 2009-10 Treble this season.

“We achieved something very significant by winning every trophy on offer,” the former defender continued.

Chivu argued that “In terms of their squad and staff Inter have what it takes.”

“It’s still not even December though,” he went on. “Talking about these kinds of things right now is premature.”

“Because certain things only really happen in the last couple months, based on the journey you’ve taken.”

As far as why Inter have a much stronger defense in the Champions League than in Serie A, Chivu said that “The Italian league has grown, probably.”

“There are teams that can cause you problems, more than in Europe,” he argued.

As for what’s next for him, Chivu said that “I’m waiting for my opportunity.”

“For a Sporting Director and club who believe in a young coach. Someone who will break away from playing on the safe side.”

“I think that at the moment all young coaches face the problem of finding ambitious clubs willing to take risks,” he admitted.

“But I don’t see it as a risk. We’re all trained and experience, we just need to be patient and wait.”