Inter coach criticizes his team’s performance and raises doubts over the late VAR decision
Cristian Chivu admitted Inter Milan fell short in their derby defeat against AC Milan, criticizing the team’s lack of sharpness and attacking precision.
The loss marked Chivu’s second derby defeat as Inter head coach and allowed Milan to cut the gap at the top of the Serie A standings from a potential 13 points to seven.
Despite the setback, the Inter manager insisted the result does not fundamentally change the title race.
“Even if we had won, nothing would really have changed,” Chivu said after the match. “We still have ten games left and thirty points available.”
“We Played a Dirty Game”
Chivu did not hide his disappointment with the performance.
“The first half was below our level and we conceded their goal,” he explained. “In the second half we raised the intensity and created some chances.”
However, Inter struggled to break down Milan’s defensive setup.
“At the end we tried to surround their low block and even changed our formation,” he said. “But we didn’t manage to equalize.”
According to the coach, the team lacked fluidity and precision in the final third.
“We were messy and played badly,” Chivu admitted. “Our crosses ended up becoming target practice for Milan’s defenders.”
He also noted that Milan defended deep and waited for counterattacking opportunities.
“They stayed compact and punished us on transitions,” he said.
Attackers Struggled
Chivu pointed out that Inter’s attacking line did not have its usual influence on the match.
“Our style of play depends heavily on our forwards, and today they were missing a bit,” he said.
Still, he refused to place blame solely on the younger players who were involved.
“For two young players it’s important to experience matches like this,” he explained. “It wasn’t the moment to take away the team’s confidence.”
Instead, Chivu emphasized the need for the entire squad to improve how they handle key moments during big matches.
“We should have taken better advantage of the situations that went in our favor.”
The Controversial Handball Incident
One of the most debated moments of the derby came late in the match when Inter appealed for a possible handball inside the box.
Chivu chose not to criticize the referees directly but made a pointed remark about the decision.
“There is a VAR and an assistant VAR who checked the situation — at least I think they did,” he said.
Ultimately, the Inter coach preferred to focus on his team’s performance rather than officiating decisions.
“I think about our performance and my own mistakes,” he added.
The Title Race Continues
Despite the defeat, Inter remain in control of the Serie A standings with a seven-point advantage over the chasing pack, including Atalanta BC.
Chivu’s message to his players is clear as the season enters its final stretch.
“There are ten games left,” he said. “We have to keep moving forward.”
For Inter, the derby may have been a setback — but the race for the Scudetto is far from over.
