Inter Milan manager Cristian Chivu remains confident that his side can overturn a 3-1 deficit against Bodo/Glimt to secure a place in the Champions League last 16.
Inter Milan manager Cristian Chivu believes his team has the strength to turn around a difficult situation in their Champions League play-off.
After losing 3-1 to Bodo/Glimt in Norway last week, Inter must now win by at least two goals at home to keep their European dreams alive. Chivu made it clear that while the task is tough, his players are capable of reaching the round of 16.
The stakes are incredibly high for the Italian giants. If Inter fails to win, they will join the current Serie A champions, Napoli, in being knocked out of Europe’s top competition early.
This has put a lot of pressure on the “Nerazzurri” to deliver a big performance in front of their home fans at the San Siro on Tuesday night.
During a press conference, Chivu told reporters that his players should not view the game as a burden. He explained that they have a duty to go out and show their true quality on the pitch.
According to the manager, the team needs to play with the mindset that they are exactly the kind of club that can pull off a famous comeback.
We’ll welcome the Arctic into a boiling San Siro 🔥🏟️ pic.twitter.com/z2C1Y2w9rI
— Inter ⭐⭐ (@Inter_en) February 24, 2026
Confidence is the main theme of Chivu’s message to his squad. He emphasized that the players must not lose faith in themselves, even after the disappointing result in the first leg. To get past this play-off round, Chivu believes Inter must be the “best version of themselves” from the first whistle to the last.
However, the team will have to attempt this comeback without some of their biggest stars. Inter will be missing their captain and leading goalscorer, Lautaro Martinez, which is a massive blow to their attack.
There is also a lot of uncertainty surrounding midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu, who has been struggling with muscle injuries over the past few weeks.
Their opponents, Bodo/Glimt, are the biggest surprise of this year’s tournament. In their very first Champions League season, the Norwegian side has already shocked the world by defeating Manchester City and Atletico Madrid. Their 3-1 lead over Inter shows that they are a dangerous team that cannot be taken lightly.
The winner of this intense tie will move on to face either Manchester City or Sporting Lisbon in the next round. Inter knows that a victory today is the only way to stay in the hunt for the trophy.
