Cristian Chivu Praises Mature Inter After 5-2 Rout of Roma
Inter Milan manager Cristian Chivu hailed his team's maturity after a commanding 5-2 victory over AS Roma at San Siro on Easter Sunday. The win, powered by a Lautaro Martinez brace and goals from Nicolo Barella, Hakan Calhanoglu, and Denzel Dumfries, temporarily extended Inter's lead at the Serie A summit to nine points over AC Milan.
Speaking to DAZN after the match, Chivu expressed his satisfaction with the performance, particularly after halftime. He stated that he had asked his team to approach the second half better and close out the game, a demand they met emphatically. "This team shows signs of maturity," Chivu said. "Maybe in the last few games, after the restart, we had a bit of a drop, but today we showed up with the right spirit, to be dominant and finish the match."
The Romanian coach acknowledged initial difficulties against a Roma side set up by Daniele De Rossi. He noted that it was not easy to press Roma high due to their width and that Calhanoglu initially struggled to contain Roma's midfielder, Tommaso Pisilli. However, Inter adjusted, contained Roma's possession, and increased their intensity to seize control of the contest.
Beyond the tactical analysis, Chivu used his post-match platform to address what he described as a toxic climate surrounding Italian football. When asked about the issue, he did not single out any group, instead stating that everyone shares blame. "I'm talking about social media, the fans, sometimes even the journalists," Chivu explained. "Criticism is liked, highlighting negative things is liked, and instead football should be a game. Starting from the youth. We are all guilty, we should change our approach a bit to this world and this beautiful game that makes children and fans fall in love. Not those who revel in schadenfreude and spout... things you can't say."
The victory serves as a significant momentum boost for Inter as the season enters its decisive phase. The emphatic scoreline, against a direct rival for Champions League qualification, underscores the team's attacking potency and resilience. With key players like Martinez finding form and the squad showing the mentality Chivu demanded, Inter has firmly reasserted its authority in the title race. The result also provides a positive backdrop for the impending departure of defender Alessandro Bastoni, who was given a standing ovation upon his substitution, with the club already reportedly identifying potential replacements for the summer transfer window.
