Chivu downplays derby stakes but Inter's compactness will be tested
Cristian Chivu says Sunday's Milan derby carries extra motivation but not decisive weight, even as Inter chase a first win over their rivals since April 2024.
Inter arrive at Sunday's Derby della Madonnina top of Serie A but without a win over Milan in seven attempts, and Cristian Chivu is determined to keep that record in perspective.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, reported by Football Italia via TMW, the Inter head coach called the derby "an added motivation" but rejected the idea that one result, this early in the campaign, could shape the title race.
"The table doesn't matter, it doesn't count for anything," Chivu said, framing the match as the tenth league game of a long season rather than a verdict on anything bigger.
Why compactness matters more than the occasion
Chivu's tactical language was telling. Asked about Milan's tendency to start matches quickly, he spoke of balance between physical readiness and mental sharpness, and of knowing when to commit to certain actions rather than being drawn into an early exchange of blows.
He specifically flagged the need for his side to maintain defensive compactness and cover depth against a Milan team he described as technically strong and capable of hurting Inter in transition.
That is a specific concern: a team that wins the ball high or breaks quickly can expose a defence that has pushed its block forward, which is why covering depth behind the first line of pressure becomes the priority against a side built to exploit space in behind.
The seven-game run and the search for answers
Inter have lost five and drawn two of their last seven meetings with Milan, with their most recent derby win coming in April 2024. Chivu did not dismiss the run as irrelevant.
"We also have to ask questions of ourselves if we haven't won in the last seven derbies," he said, pointing to isolated moments, including the first fixture of last season, that swung in Milan's favour rather than any structural failing.
His answer suggests he reads the sequence as a pattern of fine margins rather than a tactical mismatch, which matters for how Inter approach Sunday: not as a system overhaul, but as a correction of detail.
He also noted that Milan won the corresponding fixture last season before losing to Lazio in Rome, a result that reopened the title picture when many assumed it was settled. The point was straightforward: one derby result does not fix a season's trajectory in either direction.
Squad management and a defensive question hanging over the weekend
Inter have collected 13 points this season after trailing in matches, a detail that speaks to a team capable of recovering from losing positions rather than one that controls games from the front.
Asked how important it is not to concede against Milan, Chivu resisted framing himself as a coach obsessed with clean sheets. "I'm not the sort of coach who prefers to attack rather than defend," he said, adding that understanding the moments within a match matters more than a fixed defensive principle.
On personnel, Chivu confirmed Carlos Augusto remains an option at wing-back or in defence, saying rotations are shaped by injuries and the need to manage squad freshness through a congested calendar.
He declined to confirm whether Josep Martinez would start in goal, saying only that the decision would come on the eve of the match.
Chivu was also asked about the new stadium project recently unveiled by Inter and Milan, and whether he expects to still be in charge when it opens. He said the sporting world moves forward even as he feels attachment to San Siro from his playing days, calling the future something that can feel uncertain before it brings its own reward.
On his own longevity at the club, he kept his answer open, noting there are four years left on the broader horizon being discussed and acknowledging how difficult it is for any coach to remain in position that long.
Kick-off at San Siro is scheduled for 19.45 GMT on Sunday, with Inter looking to end their longest winless run in the fixture while sitting at the top of the table they insist means nothing until it does.