Cristian Chivu says that the prospect of a Derby della Madonnina against rivals Milan is always an ‘added motivation’ for the Inter players, but insists that the final result will not be ‘decisive’ in the race for the Serie A title: ‘It’s only the 10th game of the season’.
League leaders Inter will be the away side when they take on Milan in the first Derby della Madonnina of the season at 19.45 GMT on Saturday evening.
Key Developments in Chivu: ‘A derby is
Despite winning the Scudetto and Coppa Italia last season. Inter lost both of their league fixtures against Milan in 2025-26. In fact, they have not won in any of their last seven meetings with the Rossoneri, losing five and drawing two. Inter’s last victory in the derby came in April of 2024.
Chivu, speaking in his pre-match press conference on Friday, insisted that his players do not need any additional motivation heading into the Milan clash.
Post-Match Reactions and Strategic Impact
“They’re ready and aware of the fact that it’s a derby. It’s always an added motivation to play in this game. The table doesn’t matter, it doesn’t count for anything,” warned the Nerazzurri head coach (via TMW).
Assessing his opponents and responding to suggestions that they always tend to come out quickly at the start of matches this season, Chivu said: “It’s all about balance, both in terms of what you’ve got in your legs and in your mind. You have to know when to decide to do certain things.
“We know Milan’s strengths and how they can hurt us. They’re a good technical team, we have to be ready to maintain our compactness and to cover in depth.”
Chivu was asked about his desire to ‘restore the pride’ after going seven matches without a win against Milan.
“We have to treat it as a league game,” he insisted. “We can’t just be satisfied with what we’ve done so far. We have to be the best version of ourselves. We also have to ask questions of ourselves if we haven’t won in the last seven derbies. Isolated incidents, moments have gone in their favour, like the first game last year. We have to make a few more sacrifices.”
He insists, however, that one loss against Milan will not define Inter’s story this season, nor did it in 2025-26.
“Last season taught me that the derby is not decisive. It’s a big Serie A challenge, like always, three points are up for grabs.
“History reminds us that Milan won in the first leg last year, then lost to Lazio in Rome when everyone thought the table had been re-opened. It’s only the 10th game of the season.
“Obviously lots of other things are in play, like pride, determination, pleasing the supporters. You know that things aren’t always easy if you don’t win.
“There are no favourites in derbies. There is a lot of desire and ambition. You need to find the energy and the motivation. There is pressure on everyone, but we can’t think too much about that. You just have to do the right things.”
Chivu was then asked for his thoughts on the new stadium plans that Inter and Milan have recently revealed and was asked if he thinks he will still be Nerazzurri head coach by the time the new stadium is opened.
Court-Side Telemetry and Baseline Warfare in Chivu: ‘A derby is
Statistical analysis from this Tennis contest reveals how rally length and second-serve return depth dictated critical passages. Taking the ball on the rise allowed aggressive players to rob their opponents of recovery time, translating into crucial break-point opportunities.
Physical stamina proved indispensable as grueling multi-shot rallies tested cardiovascular conditioning under intense pressure, underscoring the demanding training regimens of professional tour athletes.
Tour Rankings and Bracket Progression
Advancing through the tournament bracket delivers invaluable ranking points and prize money, setting up compelling tactical showdowns in the subsequent rounds of the competition.
