Inter Milan missed the chance to climb to the top of Serie A after they lost the derby with Napoli 1-3 in the 8th round. Cristi Chivu's team fell to the 4th position, in a match in which the hosts opened the scoring after a laughable penalty, converted by De Bruyne. The shock was too great for the Milanese, who were unable to overcome the tension of the game and focus on football, something highlighted by the peninsular press.
Cristi Chivu, stunned by the manner of refereeing in the match with Napoli. Photo EPA EFE
Inter had 7 consecutive wins in all competitions before the Napoli game. At the Diego Maradona Stadium, Inter was destabilized by a hilarious penalty, given arbitrarily, although it was analyzed in the VAR room. The Belgian De Bruyne converted the penalty kick, at which point he also suffered a muscle strain or tear, and the Milanese did not find themselves again until the end of the game.
Score 5 for how he managed the game
In the 54th minute, McTominay increased the home side's advantage, Calhanoglu brought hope back to Cristi Chivu's side, for Anguissa to take the score to 301 after 66 minutes of play. The footballers of the European vice-champion barely received passing marks from the Italian media, just like the Romanian coach, marked with 5 for the way he managed the game. The publication FCInter1908 reproached the technician for not being able to get his players out of the chaos generated by certain arbitration decisions and the “ugly game” proposed by Napoli.
“The match was scandalously officiated by the referee Mariani, but Chivu's team, Inter, were seriously at fault. They let themselves be dragged into chaos, without even thinking about playing. In the second half, there was a lot of nervousness, a lot of fighting moments, but little real football. However, the match could have been saved, and then he could have taken credit. To be dragged down by negative events is a flaw on which this team cannot overcome“, the Italians wrote after the game in which Napoli climbed to the first position in the Serie A ranking.
“I don't care what people say about me”
“That penalty hurt us, we tried to react, we got more annoyed with their bench and we didn't manage to do our job for which we came prepared. The energy was thrown out the window. We reacted a little late, the third goal is the consequence of lost lucidity”declared the Romanian coach, who continued: “The world has the right to say what they want. As a coach I will never complain.
I have a desire to see football differently than some people are used to. I don't even care if people say I'm good. I only care about my players and winning together. Here we are always used to lamenting and complaining. As long as I'm here, I don't even care what people say about me.”
