Cugini to TMW Radio: the derby is a problem that Chivu has to solve

The performance in the Champions League against Feyenoord has reignited enthusiasm around Inter, but there are still some issues to resolve. Speaking to TMW Radio, Mimmo Cugini shared his take on the Nerazzurri’s situation, offering praise for the night in Rotterdam and concerns about their performance in the derby.

“Inter played a perfect match,” declared Cugini. “I’ve always thought that their only opponent in the league is themselves. That is, having less hunger, which happens after winning, but I say there was a strong desire in the air to claim that Inter isn’t that strong. Instead, these are their true values.” The journalist then pointed to the derby performance as an open issue: “It’s clear that in the derby there was either an underestimation of the opponent or a lackluster performance, and this is a problem that Chivu must seriously address.” Added to this is the absence of Lautaro: “The lack of Lautaro is a significant variable for this team, especially in terms of personality during difficult moments.”

Looking ahead to the next match, Cugini described Como as a direct clash for the Scudetto. “Como is one of the strongest teams in the league, I think preparing matches against very strong teams is not a problem, especially for finding motivation. And then it’s the last one before the break.” On the psychological front, according to Cugini, the win in the Netherlands was crucial: “From a psychological point of view, it was important to win in Rotterdam. The match against Como is now a direct clash for the Scudetto, since Como is a top team in the league.”

On the technical side, Cugini highlighted a recurring difficulty: in recent seasons, Inter has struggled against teams that sit back in defense. Como, however, does not fall into this category: “I think it will be a beautiful match, there are two coaches who want to play proactively, even if in different ways.”