“Do it more often!” » The Romanian coach has a first rule at Inter

After a fortunate 2-1 extra-time victory in Verona against Hellas on Sunday, Chivu are aiming for their third consecutive success in a week. Especially since on “Giuseppe Meazza” comes the debutant in the Champions League from Kazakhstan. The 45-year-old technician surprised journalists again at the press conference held today.

Challenged to address the less glamorous period Lautaro Martinez went through and the suspicion that there were frictions between the two, Cristi Chivu clarified the situation, also making an unexpected gesture. The Inter coach put his fingers at the corners of his mouth to force a very wide smile.

Cristi Chivu once again entertained the journalists at the press conference before the Inter – Kairat match, showing a big smile / Photo: Inter 1908

Chivu: “You know how hard you work, what you represent to us, how much we admire you. But learn to smile, Lautaro!”

“I signaled to Lautaro: smile. It's a matter of happiness and passion. Lautaro is a leader, sometimes what he feels like responsibility clouds his thoughts and they become negative.

8Lautaro Martinez has goals and two assists with Crist Chivu at Inter, the Romanian coach using him in 16 matches for 1,223 minutes

I told him «you are who you are, you know how hard you work, what you represent for us and how much we admire you. But learn to smile. He needs to smile a little more!”, said the Nerazzurri technician.

Then asked how he finds balance when evaluating players, Chivu explained: “The first rule is knowing how to lose. For me, it all starts with that. If you don't know how to lose, you don't know how to win.

Lautaro Martinez got mad at Cristi Chivu when he changed him / Photo: GettyImages

Chivu: “It's not their fault that they practice football, the players are just following what they've always dreamed of since childhood”

Players are professionals, have their own personal ambitions and respect the badge they wear on their chest. They don't think about the last name on the shirts. If we put aside our egos and understand what our dreams are, we realize that perfection does not exist.

Storms always come, you have to know how to stay upright with your head up and your back straight. Some people outside the team can't accept defeat because the expectations are high.

It's easy to beat and players are judged by their winnings and other things that have nothing to do with reality. It's not their fault that this is the sport we play, they're just following what they've always dreamed of since childhood.”

Cristi Chivu has 12 wins, a draw and 4 defeats at Inter, goal difference 38-16 / Photo: Imago

It is important for us to integrate him into the group, to be with Martinez. It's not easy for Pepo, but it's hard for anyone. It is a more delicate matter than some might think. I await the result of the investigation, although it seems that he is not guilty. However, someone is no longer among us. We have to be with him, support him and accept that life is not always as we would like

Cristi Chivuthe coach of Inter, about the fatal accident caused by the reserve goalkeeper Josep Martinez

Chivu: “We have to stand in the storm and wait for it to pass, because it's nice to enjoy the sun”

Cristi Chivu revealed to the media what he thinks can be improved in Inter's game: “There is always room for improvement, we want continuity, we must accept that we can fall, but that we must react.

We will be in a storm again, football is like life in general in that sense. You tried to put Carlos (no – Carlos Augusto) in trouble and I liked how he reacted. He is a mature, humble boy who knows where he wants to go.

That's what we're trying to become: a mature group, aware that years and seasons are always hard. We have to stand in the storms, wait for them to pass, because it's nice to enjoy the sun afterwards.