Chivu: Real Madrid have many ways to hurt you, we cannot lose our own identity too much

Before Inter Milan's away match against Real Madrid in the opening round of the Champions League league phase, Inter head coach Cristian Chivu gave an interview to Italian Sky Sport reporter Matteo Barzaghi.

Cristian Chivu, we are now at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, Real Madrid against Inter, and this is also the first Champions League match. How are you feeling right now?

This is the first Champions League match. During the first eight-match phase, it is like a mini tournament, and everyone is trying to perform better, especially on such an important stage as the Bernabeu. We are ready, but the match ultimately has to be played fiercely on the pitch, because everything always seems simple on paper and in words, but we must prove our ability on the field.

From a tactical perspective, what kind of contest do you expect this to be? In particular, I would like to ask the coach—you were also an excellent defender—when facing extremely fast attacking players like Mbappe and Vinicius, how should they be limited and defended against? In my view, speed is clearly a very important theme in this match……

Indeed, Real Madrid have many tactical methods to beat you or hurt you. Whether through high pressing and pinning you deep, when you defend in a low block, or through quick transitions and counterattacks, they have key players with world-class individual ability and quality. We must be fully prepared, stay highly focused, and at the same time not lose too much of our original tactical style and characteristics. In addition, we must further improve our level of concentration, because we know the Champions League is always a competitive competition. In this tournament, whether in terms of physical intensity or technical quality, playing well is never easy.

I will not ask about your specific starting lineup choices, because we understand you will continue weighing and considering them until the last moment, but I still want to ask: how is Thuram's physical condition now? Is he ready to handle most of the match, perhaps to increase his playing time? I am not sure, or would you even consider starting him directly?

His condition is certainly much better than when facing Cagliari and Napoli. After scoring a goal, he has undoubtedly gained more confidence.

Finally, I would like you to talk about Jose Mourinho. He was once your coach, and you lifted the Champions League trophy together at this stadium. As you walk into this stadium again today and recall that glorious final night you shared with him, what is the first memory or the deepest impression that comes to your mind?

I have so many wonderful memories with him, because we shared and experienced countless moments together. Beyond my sincere respect as a player for him as a great coach, during those years working side by side and throughout all these years, I came to know another side of him as an extremely outstanding and warm person.

When I went through a very difficult low point in my career, he gave me tremendous support. He did everything he could to help me, gave me full trust, and patiently waited for me to recover from injury and return to play. He took me through the final months of his time at Inter—and that great coaching journey eventually reached the perfect conclusion with the Champions League final victory at this Bernabeu Stadium. I have the utmost respect for him; he is a great coach.