Inter Milan, under the management of Cristi Chivu, achieved its first victory in the current Champions League season, defeating Shakhtar Donetsk 1-0 in their third group stage match.
Following the match, Italian journalists evaluated the team’s performance, giving Chivu ratings between 6 and 6.5. After suffering two losses in the previous matches, Inter needed this win to improve their standing in the group. The Milan team dominated the early stages of the game but struggled against the Ukrainian side.
The challenge intensified for Inter in the 68th minute when Alessandro Bastoni was sent off after receiving two yellow cards in quick succession. Despite being a player down, Inter struck in the 77th minute thanks to Carlos Augusto, holding on to secure three crucial points against their opponents.
Italian Media Reactions to Chivu’s Coaching After Inter vs. Shakhtar 1-0
Journalists from Tuttomercatoweb rated Cristi Chivu a 6. “After two defeats, there was an urgent need for victory in the Champions League. The initial minutes were promising, but the following hour of play was concerning. He tried to make adjustments, and the red card to Bastoni could have complicated things, but fortunately for him, Carlos Augusto came through. It was not a fully convincing performance, but winning was what mattered, and the team showed character,” they noted.
Similarly, FCInter1908 also awarded him a score of 6, highlighting the need for the team to regain the confidence they display in Serie A when competing in the Champions League. “They are trying to shake off their Champions League complex, but the team seems to mentally struggle due to the lack of results in this top tournament. Inter starts well but fades quickly, and in the second half, they become anxious and rushed. There is still work to be done to transfer their league confidence to the Champions League, but securing these three points is a step forward,” the publication remarked.
Chivu Earns a Slightly Higher Rating of 6.5: “He’s Back!”
A more positive review came from Leggo, which awarded Chivu a rating of 6.5. “He returns to winning in the Champions League nearly a year after the victory over Kairat, this time narrowly defeating Shakhtar Donetsk, thanks to a late goal. Two positive aspects include the experiment with Bastoni in central defense, which deserves to be repeated, and the first match without conceding a goal in the Champions League. He’s back!” they stated.
FCInterNews also gave him a score of 6.5 but criticized the first half’s performance, describing Inter as unrecognizable. “A disappointing first half, to say the least. It didn’t seem like his team: slow, passive, predictable, lacking connections between lines. In the second half, they managed to regain some vitality, yet chaos still dominated. The first three substitutions provided a boost to the team, affected by Bastoni’s red card. The coach responded by shifting to a 4-4-1 system, and luck, with Mkhitaryan coming on, brought Carlos Augusto’s crucial goal that secured three hard-fought points. Inter may be eliminated from the Champions League, but not today,” FCInterNews commented.
Champions League Group Standings
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