Former Roma and Inter defender Cristian Chivu shared his insights on the upcoming Serie A clash between his former clubs. The Romanian coach, now working in Inter’s youth system, offered a detailed tactical analysis and his views on both teams’ current situations when speaking with La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Chivu began by acknowledging the challenges of preparing for a match after an international break. “The truth is that a league break is always a tricky time to prepare for a game. As a coach, you never know what to expect,” he said. He expressed particular sympathy for Roma’s new coach Daniele De Rossi, who has had limited time with his full squad.
Despite these uncertainties, Chivu sees the match as an intriguing tactical battle. “Inter has a precise playing identity. The group’s growth has been exceptional in every aspect,” he noted. He highlighted the importance of Roma’s man-marking approach against Inter’s fluid system. “The key will be what Roma manages to do with their man-to-man marking all over the pitch. The problem for the Giallorossi is that Inter usually performs best against teams that play this way.”
Chivu singled out Inter’s attacking duo of Marcus Thuram and Lautaro Martinez as potential game-changers. “They are masters of movement, of finding space, of providing reference points for their teammates in both short and long passing games. It’s really tough to stop them,” he explained.
On the defensive side, Chivu praised Inter’s Alessandro Bastoni: “I adore Bastoni. I’ve seen the boy’s evolution up close. The more time passes, the more he becomes a complete player.” He sees Bastoni’s future as a left-sided center-back in a three-man defense, where he can best utilize his passing skills and create numerical superiority on the left flank.
Regarding Inter’s ambitions, Chivu believes they are equipped to compete on all fronts – Serie A, Champions League, and Coppa Italia. “The club has built a team capable of holding up until the end, of competing for everything in any competition,” he stated. He emphasized the depth of Inter’s squad, noting that the level doesn’t drop even with rotation.
When asked about Roma’s prospects, Chivu was cautious. “Now there’s a phase of great change. It won’t be easy to absorb everything. We’ll have to see how quickly the players adapt to the new coach and his style of play,” he said. He acknowledged Roma’s status as a club that should always aim for Champions League qualification but recognized the challenges of frequent managerial changes.
Chivu expressed surprise at De Rossi’s appointment and subsequent dismissal, advocating for patience with coaches, especially those who receive late additions to their squad. “A team doesn’t come together overnight,” he remarked.
The former defender identified Inter’s greatest strength as their rotations and interchangeability of players. “It’s an evolved, modern team in constant growth,” he observed.
When asked which player he would choose from either team, Chivu didn’t hesitate: “Without a doubt, Mkhitaryan. I’ve seen how he trains at Appiano, his quality, the way he interacts with teammates. It’s not common in football to find players who think about the group and not in individual terms. He is pure intelligence.”
Looking to his own future, Chivu expressed his ambition to coach at the highest level but acknowledged the need to start from the bottom. “I feel ready to do it, my ambition is to measure myself at those levels, but I have to start from the bottom. I’m waiting for a call from a sporting director who will present me with a project and have full confidence in me,” he concluded.
