Chivu and the European vicious circle: playing identity versus results

Four consecutive defeats in Europe, seven in twelve total matches in charge of Inter: according to the Corriere della Sera, Chivu holds the club’s negative record in continental competitions. This is a significant statistic, considering the importance of the Champions League as the main source of revenue, and it makes a turnaround urgent.

The newspaper does not stop at the defense or the goalkeeper. Before the match against the Belgian champions, the Nerazzurri coach had insisted on the need not to alter his team’s identity: “Chivu philosophized about the need not to change the team’s identity, which seeks to dominate the game: even Guardiola has always explained that for him it is better to lose with his own ideas than to win by betraying them,” writes the newspaper.

The problem, highlights the CorSera, lies in the gap between the ambitions of play and the characteristics of the squad. Playing offensive, vertical football, based on pressing and high recovery, requires suitable players. Inter’s average age is 28.5 years, compared to Bruges’ 24.5. The midfield, including the wingers, creates chances and goals, but does not cover the defense quickly, which has been left without a marker like Acerbi, “in any case unsuited to this type of approach,” the newspaper reads.

The formula that works in Italy — scoring more than the opponents — is not enough in Europe. “The vicious circle must be broken. Quickly,” concludes the newspaper.