After 3 years under Pep Guardiola, Akanji was conquered by Cristi Chivu: “You can see his hand”
Article by Daniel Grigore – Published Sunday, 02 November 2025, 18:06 / Updated Sunday, 02 November 2025 18:15
Inter won in Verona, 2-1with the winning goal coming in overtime. After the match, Manuel Akanji spoke highly of his coach, the Romanian Cristi Chivu.
Defeated at Napoli 8 days ago, Inter have bounced back and won twice this week. Today, in Verona, the saving goal was long overdue. It came in the 90+2 minute and was actually an own goal signed by Frese.
Manuel Akanji, the defender signed by Inter from Manchester City, was a full-back today, initially on the right side of a back three that also included Yann Bisseck and Alessandro Bastoni.
Akanji ended the match in the central area after Bisseck was booked in the 66th minute for a tactical foul.
After 3 years under Pep Guardiola, Akanji was conquered by Cristi Chivu: “You can see his hand”
Asked at the DAZN flash-interview aboutit's Chivu's decision to replace Bisseck in the center of defense, Akanji had words of praise for the Romanian coach.
“Why did Chivu trade me for Bisseck? I don't know (no – laughs), maybe because he had received a yellow card and didn't want to risk it, while I could have.
Chivu's hand is visible. Today was a difficult match, we won as a great team. You can see how the coach managed to make us better; whether we win or lose the match, we always try to improve“, said the stopper who in the previous 3 seasons was coached by Pep Guardiola.
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Rival microbists blamed the referee's decision to only award Bisseck a “yellow”. Many believe that it was necessary to eliminate the German, who was in the position of the last defender, but close to the center of the field.
The situation in which Bisseck fouled
Afterwards, for the club's television, Akanji also said that “it was not an easy match, there were many fouls and we could not always control the game, but we worked until the end and scored with a bit of luck”.
“We managed to stay focused and react after Verona's goal. To win in such a way is worth twice as much because it shows the mental strength of the team,” concluded the Swiss.
The win lifted Inter to 21 points, the same as AS Roma and one behind leaders Napoli. Of the 3, in this stage Roma still has to play, this evening, on Milan's field.
VIDEO with the viral reaction of Cristi Chivu after the winning goal
VIDEO summary of the match Verona – Inter 1-2
