Chivu: What makes me proudest is that we did not play for a result against Real Madrid, we attacked them head-on

After leading the team to a 1-2 away defeat against Real Madrid in the opening round of the UEFA Champions League league phase, Inter Milan head coach Cristian Chivu accepted an interview with Sky Sport Italia.

Good evening, Chivu. It is really not easy to comment on a match like this, because your team showed its own qualities on the pitch, competing actively and creating chances, but at the same time you made some serious mistakes and paid a very heavy price for them. After that, the match moved into a difficult and passive phase for you, because while attacking you also had to leave some counterattacking space to a high-level opponent like Real Madrid. So my question is: after creating so many opportunities but ultimately losing, what part made you happiest, what made you angry, or what left you feeling disappointed and regretful? Conversely, what is the thing you can take home today that gives you the most satisfaction?

But I want to say that I was not angry at all, really. On the contrary, I am extremely happy and proud of this team. I am delighted by the fearless courage they showed on the pitch, their clear identity, and the way they faced and overcame difficult moments.

On a football pitch, making mistakes is normal. Mistakes are an inseparable part of the game. More than the mistakes themselves, what I truly care about is the players' reactions after making certain mistakes, the way they carry themselves on the pitch, their body language, their attitude, and whether they can maintain their belief and keep fighting until the final moment.

I want to say that we produced a very good performance away from home today. Coming to a stadium like the Bernabeu, we tried to become the protagonists, control the situation, and carry out the tactical plan we had prepared beforehand. All of this made me genuinely happy, and it also makes me optimistic about the future of the team and the identity and style we are gradually building.

Mistakes are part of the game. Before the match, we already knew that during transitions between attack and defense we would inevitably leave some opportunities for the opponent. We also knew the extraordinary quality of Real Madrid's attacking players. However, despite these challenges, we stayed firmly in the competition and believed and fought until the last moment.

I think we should be proud of ourselves today. What we should take from this match is the excellent performance, the strong fighting spirit and the fearless courage we showed. Above all, we did not lose heart, and against a strong opponent we did not try to play cautious or opportunistic defensive football. Instead, at the Bernabeu we chose to face Real Madrid openly and without fear in a direct attacking contest.

If we were to find the best example or symbol of what you said, it might be Josep Martinez. He made a clear mistake during the match, and we know that making such a mistake at the Bernabeu can easily affect a player's mentality. But instead, after that mistake we saw Martinez perform at his highest level. Perhaps this is exactly the reaction you were talking about, and it is a very positive and encouraging sign, right?

Why do you journalists always specifically mention him separately? I have already said that what I care about more is how everyone responds as a group after mistakes. But regarding Pepo, after making that mistake, he indeed showed the textbook reaction of a top-level goalkeeper. He was not affected by the error, remained fully focused on the match, and later made several crucial saves for the team.

When we talk about a goalkeeper — and this does not only apply to goalkeepers but to every player on the pitch — what interests and matters to me most is how they react in the moment, how they keep their heads up after mistakes, how they show their inner pride, how they continue to express their qualities on the pitch, and how they gradually regain confidence. That is the only thing I truly care about as a coach.

After the match Mourinho said, 'I greeted Chivu; he knows how I feel about him, and I know how he feels about me.' So I want to ask you, what did it mean to face him today, or to meet again on the pitch, pass by each other, and embrace and greet one another?

I have extremely deep and indescribable affection and respect for him. This is not only because we fought together, created and achieved great things together, but also because during the most difficult moments of my personal life and my family's experiences, he gave me care and support from a human perspective.

During those difficult and frustrating times, he gave me complete and unconditional trust. His actions and behavior perfectly represented the definition of a great man. I truly love and respect him very much. Being able to see him again here today and embrace him made me very happy. I sincerely wish him all the best this season and in this new adventure and journey, and hope he achieves the best possible results.

Yes, Cristian, this was indeed a very unusual and even incredible match. I originally predicted that your team might struggle greatly on both defensive and attacking sides of the flanks today, but surprisingly, thanks to the excellent performances of Carlos Augusto and Diouf, you repeatedly created threats from the wings and put Real Madrid's entire defense under pressure. However, I have a question: why did you substitute Carlos Augusto late in the match?

At that point he simply could not continue. Physically, he had reached his limit and could no longer support himself. He was extremely tired, struggling to move, and at times even had difficulty staying upright on the pitch.

Nevertheless, I was extremely happy with the performances of both of them. They were both very aggressive and played with great initiative. Augusto then completed his excellent performance with a goal, making a forward run into the center of the penalty area to finish. His style may be a little more direct and linear, but when he decisively attacked the space behind the opponent's defense, he caused significant problems on Dumfries' side.

On the other side, Andy Diouf also played a very important match in my view. On a stage like the Bernabeu, he had enough courage and fighting spirit to face the opponent directly and fearlessly challenge one of the best full-backs in the world in one-on-one situations. Even defensively, despite facing two extremely strong star players, he maintained excellent concentration and intensity.

This is the most valuable thing I take away from this team today — the fearless courage and strong fighting spirit shown by the entire group. We can proudly say that we played a great match, and it has given us tremendous confidence for the future.