Inter Milan coach Cristian Chivu reflects on his team’s 2-1 loss to Udinese, emphasising the need to balance beautiful football with pragmatic tactics to succeed in the Serie A.
Inter’s 5-0 thrashing of Torino in the opening weekend was a distant memory as they suffered a 2-1 defeat to Udinese in the same stadium. Denzel Dumfries had given them an early lead, but a penalty decision and Arthur Atta’s stunning curling shot turned the game around. According to Cristian Chivu, the warning signs were there from the start, and his team failed to adapt.
“The game was on the right track, but we weren’t fluid; we couldn’t find the right build-up to create chances,” Chivu said, highlighting the team’s struggles in possession. The Nerazzurri’s inability to capitalise on their chances ultimately cost them the game. “At the first difficult situation for us, we gave away a penalty, then lost our sharpness and focus. We could see that we were struggling.”
Despite throwing everything at Udinese in the second half, Inter rarely tested the goalkeeper. Chivu made tactical changes, introducing multiple strikers, including Lautaro Martinez, Marcus Thuram, Francesco Pio Esposito, and Ange-Yoan Bonny. However, Udinese’s defence held firm, with Solet and Kristensen doing a great job defending in the air.
“It was better after the break, more determination, more grit, better moves, even though we lost sharpness again as time wore on and were unable to finish off our chances,” Chivu continued. He emphasised the need for his team to find a balance between playing beautiful football and being pragmatic when necessary.
“You must try to play beautiful football, but also be ready to play dirty when necessary, as a ball pumped into the box can do more damage sometimes than a lovely pass,” Chivu said. This approach, he believes, will help Inter succeed in the long run.
The loss to Udinese is a setback for Inter, who now head into the international break on a low note. They’ll face Juventus after the restart in Serie A, followed by a crucial Champions League match. Chivu remains optimistic, saying, “We aren’t terrible after this one. We remain a work in progress. We’ve got to learn to find that balance, focus, and work hard. There’s a very long way to go this season.”
The international break will give Inter’s players a chance to rest and recharge.
Chivu hopes that the break will allow his players to return with more determination and fire. “There are still two weeks to go. We won’t have many players left in Milan during the break, as they are all off on international duty, but I hope that this time off can let them return with more determination and fire,” he concluded.
