Cristian Chivu, the head coach of Inter Milan, is aiming to move past recent setbacks in the Milan derby. He believes that a change of venue might bring his team good fortune. The “Nerazzurri” are set to play their first derby of the season against their city rivals on August 5, although it will be an exhibition match held in Perth, Australia. Chivu has also discussed the potential of holding a Serie A match overseas.
Several key players are still unavailable for Chivu’s squad due to international commitments and injuries. In a statement on the club’s official website, he addressed the upcoming match and the losses experienced in last season’s derby. He expressed concern about the fitness of Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram as they prepare for the opening Serie A match against Monza at home.
Chivu’s Thoughts Ahead of the AC Milan Friendly
“I want to see improvement, both physically and in terms of fitness. I am not concerned about the type of match we are facing. I’m pleased that some players will gain additional minutes in this phase of preparation, and we will always be mindful of how we have adapted to the time zone changes and the risks we can take.
As a coach, my focus is on ensuring my players are in the best possible shape for their season debut. Tomorrow’s match is just a friendly, and trophies in August mean little. The derby is a special game for everyone, but ultimately, it’s just another match. Inter and Milan are known worldwide, and it will definitely be an exciting game to watch.
I know who we have available. I hope they look at the careers of Federico Dimarco, Francesco Pio Esposito, and Aleksandar Stankovic. Their performance and intensity will determine how they fare against senior teams, which is different from youth leagues,” Chivu commented.
Lautaro and Thuram Uncertain for Serie A Opener
Inter’s season opener is scheduled for August 22 at home against Monza, but Chivu remains uncertain about his star players.
“I doubt Lautaro and Thuram will be ready for the first game of the season. We will assess how long it takes to get them back on the pitch. We don’t want to take too many risks. It’s not easy,” he added.
Chivu Interested in an International Match
“It would be nice, but organizing such an event is not straightforward as it involves traveling to the other side of the world for two teams, followed by long returns and upcoming matches soon after. One idea could be scheduling it at the start of the season, similar to the Tour de France, which holds its early stages in another country before returning to France.
If the first match were to be played abroad, teams could arrive earlier, possibly a week in advance, to play the first match and then return home to continue with the second match of the season. While still challenging, it would at least take place at the season’s outset.
Promoting Italian football is certainly important; we all want it, but something needs to be done. This could be a way to export Italian football to the other side of the world,” Chivu concluded.
