Inter’s coach, Cristian Chivu, has admitted that his team did not show up with the right mentality in the derbin towards Milan, naming the wrong approach in the first few minutes as one of the main reasons for losing 3-1.
The interri suffered the first defeat in Serie A this season, in a match that was found at the disadvantage of two goals in the first ten minutes, following the Christian Pulic and Adrien Rabliot’s make-up.
Alessandro Baston managed to narrow his supremacy to 2-1, after a strike from the corner of Hakan Calhanoglu, but Milan scored once again before the end of the first part. Diego Moreira made it out of the free kick, sealing the 3-1 Redberry win.
It’s painful to lose a debt, especially when we and everyone else had different expectations for what this game represents and for what we should protect. Today we had to improvise, considering the situations we faced in the last days. We tried to activate players who were able to sacrifice, but it was difficult, Chivu told Sky Sports Italy.
The Romanian technician did not try to hide the team’s responsibility for poor performance, stressing that Inter lacked determination and focus, especially at the start of the meeting.
We had the wrong approach. It wasn’t all negative, because we scored 2-1 and had the opportunity to equalize, but Mike Maignan made an important reception. Then we also donated a goal before the end of the first part. We are disappointed because we expected to do more. We need to improve our approach and determination, which we are at times lacking, he said.
Chivu also explained the reasons why he was forced to make changes in the starting formation. Inter was presented with the 3-4-2-1 scheme, with Petar Sucic and Andy Diouf behind the sole assailant Marcus Thram, while lacking Captain Lautaro Martinez.
According to the coach, the decisions were influenced by a fluke situation involving several team footballers. Pyo Esposito was not in good health, while Ange-Yoan Bonny had a fever and vomited at night before the match. Even goalkeeper Ivan Provedel was not available because of similar symptoms.
We were forced to change because Pio Esposito was not well, and Bonnie had a fever until 16:30 and puked all night long. We had to improvise. We thought this was the best solution we had available, but unfortunately it didn’t work out, Chivu explained.
Inter’s coach agreed that the team must restore hunger for the victory and intensity that characterized last season. He recalled that in eight of the last 11 official matches, Inter has started the meeting at a disadvantage.
It’s not easy to play every three days with the same hunger for victory after you won last season. We have to play with more intensity and determination. Sometimes we reflect on past successes and what we’ve built up, so we have to reverse that hunger, especially when we start taking certain things as good. We need to increase focus and find continuity in everything we do, the Romanian coach finished.
This was the first defeat of Inter at the championship this season, while Chivu’s team risks losing ground in the race for the table head. /Telegraph/