Inter head coach Cristian Chivu says the disappointment of losing the Milan derby has to be turned into something useful when his team faces Feyenoord in the Champions League on Tuesday at 21:00, a match carried live by Sky Sport. Speaking to Sky Sport on the eve of the fourth round of the league phase, Chivu said the short turnaround can work in his players' favour.
"Reacting after the derby? It's easier when you play three days later, because the disappointment and the bitterness can be transformed into positive energy," Chivu said, according to Sky Sport.
Why it matters
Inter go to De Kuip after a derby defeat, and the club's European position is still being built. According to Sky Sport, the Nerazzurri took no points from their first two Champions League outings before beating Shakhtar while playing with ten men. Corriere Milano framed the Feyenoord and Como fixtures as decisive days for Chivu, warning that Inter need a response to avoid what it called a "state of crisis."
Chivu rejected the idea that the table should drive his thinking. Asked about the 16-point mark that one estimate suggests is enough for a top-eight finish, he said the competition has to be approached one match at a time.
"We always said the Champions League is match by match," he said. "Then if you want to do the calculations… people turn to 16 points for the top eight. But we think one game at a time."
Learning from the derby without losing belief
Chivu said his staff had only two days to review Saturday's loss, and that the analysis covered both what worked and what needs fixing. He pointed to the opening minutes as the main problem area, describing the defeat as one decided by episodes and early mistakes.
"You have to accept it, analyse it and learn what was done wrong, above all in the first minutes," he said. "You start from the errors but without losing your certainties, your trust and your self-belief."
He added that he trusts the group's work so far and remains confident despite the negative result.
Barella and Bastoni had said the team's attitude needs to change, and Chivu agreed the squad had discussed it. "When you know something, you can correct it. We all understood it, and I hope we can do better," he said, in comments carried by Sky Sport.
Feyenoord's home strength and Inter's attacking options
Chivu was asked about returning to a stadium where he lifted the Dutch cup in 2002 and played down the personal angle, saying too much time has passed and that his focus is on Inter. He stressed that Feyenoord are a different proposition at home, where the crowd gives them considerable backing.
"It's not simple to play there: they are a different team at home," he said. "We have to be ready in every respect — technical, physical and mental."
On the opponent's qualities, Chivu said Feyenoord combine intensity with technical ability, are strong in one-against-one situations, and use a striker who links with the team plus wide players on their inverted foot. Inter, he said, will need to produce quality of their own.
Up front, Chivu confirmed Bonny was still running a fever as late as 16:30 on Saturday and had offered to be available despite weakness from vomiting and a high temperature. Pio has recovered and is fit. Chivu said his attacking choices are clear.
Marcus Thuram, who also spoke to Sky Sport, said he is happy to play continuously and has already featured as a lone striker, a role he is willing to take again. On pressing, Chivu said there are moments to push high and moments to hold, and that as a former forward he must pick the right ones so the team is not exposed.
Sky Sport also reported that Bastoni is suspended for the match, with Carlos Augusto favoured to start in defence and Dimarco on the flank. Chivu said Provedel and Pavard are available again, with Pavard back from injury, and that no other problems had arisen.
Watch whether Inter can carry the Shakhtar attitude — the one Thuram said the team must show every time — into a hostile away night in Rotterdam.
