“I challenge those who didn't think he could achieve all this”

The statement from Chivu's former colleague comes ahead of the match that Inter will play tonight in Rome, from 22:00, in the company of Lazio, in the last act of the Coppa Italia.

Marco Materazzi: “There is something in Cristi Chivu”

In his first season on Inter's bench, Cristi Chivu is facing a very big performance, winning the two most important trophies in Italian football. Asked what it would mean for the Romanian to end his season with the two trophies, Marco Materazzi did not hesitate to answer.

“To win all twelve trophies would be sensational. Those who rated Cristian Chivu last summer did so not just on the basis of his 13 Serie A appearances against Parma, but on everything he represents for the Nerazzurri.

He always showed support and showed his players that he believed in them. No one can teach you that. There is something about him, and that something has been there since his days at Ajax, when in his twenties he was already the captain of that club”, said Marco Materazzi, according to Gazzetta dello Sport.

Marco Materazzi also praised the way Inter approached last week's game at home to Lazio, which they won 3-0 even though Inter were already champions.

“I saw an Inter that did not give in. They identified their objective, they achieved it and they did not give in. They are a team determined to achieve everything they can. They are a club where few mistakes are made.

I dare many Inter fans to say that at the start of the year they believed Cristian could achieve all of this. Especially those who didn't believe. I always said one thing: « Don't worry, he knows what he's doing »“, added the former colleague of Cristi Chivu.

• Cristi Chivu and Marco Materazzi were teammates at Inter between 2007 and 2011, during which time they shared the field in 39 games, according to Transfermarkt

• The two have been part of Inter's famous team since 2010, when under Jose Mourinho they won the 'treble'