Chivu on Inter's Intensity: A Necessary Risk in Serie A's 5-3 Thriller

Inter coach Cristian Chivu views games like the dramatic 5-3 win against Udinese as an unavoidable aspect of contemporary Serie A football. "No team is ever perfect," he stated.

The Nerazzurri were once again involved in a chaotic encounter, trailing 2-0 at home for the second consecutive Serie A match.

After coming back to beat Napoli 3-2 in their previous outing, Inter secured a 5-3 victory against Udinese, a game featuring eight different goal scorers.

This performance highlighted Inter's attacking strength but also revealed their vulnerability when not fully focused, particularly following a Champions League loss to Real Madrid.

Chivu Acknowledges Inter's Risks

“These are our inherent qualities, what we know how to do. We can score many goals and maintain a high level. While the initial 25 minutes saw us try certain things without the necessary energy, and Udinese capitalized well on our attitude, we did well to recover,” Chivu told Sky Sport Italia.

“We stayed in the game, determined not to lose, and I'm pleased with that. I also need to examine what didn't work and what I may not have effectively communicated to the team. I somewhat anticipated this, as the Champions League significantly drains player energy.”

Inter has now scored at least five goals in a Serie A match for the fourth time in 2026, a tally surpassed only by Bayern Munich among Europe's top five leagues. They currently lead Italy in goals scored this season with 14.

Conversely, they have conceded a noticeable number of goals, eight in four games. Chivu addressed this concern:

“If I didn't express concern, I wouldn't be a coach. This is modern football; the intensity is high. Our opponents challenged us, and I appreciate this style of play, even if it involves taking risks.

“I particularly liked the goal that made it 2-2, stemming from quickly regaining possession. We are not perfect; we know we have much work ahead to improve in certain areas.”

Inter had lost at home to Udinese last season in Week 2. When asked about the changes since then, Chivu responded with a smile:

“Well, we've all aged a year… We lost that match and couldn't turn it around, so that’s a difference,” Chivu said. “It’s too easy to say we've won two trophies since then, even though it's true, but that's irrelevant now. This is a new season. We have six more points after four rounds, so we are striving to improve while preserving our identity.”

The comeback was achieved despite Lautaro Martinez being rested and Hakan Calhanoglu and Djed Spence being injured. John Stones was substituted an hour into his debut.

“We aim to integrate new players and enhance squad rotation to keep everyone engaged. I saw Mkhitaryan start, Bonny scored and was happy, and Stankovic gained some playing time.

“I am slightly concerned that Sucic and Bisseck didn't play today, but that's because the club has assembled such a strong squad that it presents a challenge in selecting the starting XI. We have more options and greater depth.”

Inter is set to face Gian Piero Gasperini's Roma on Saturday in a match between two teams holding a perfect record after four rounds.

“As a player and a coach, I’ve never encountered a perfect football team. We must strive to perform at our best and maintain our identity, driven by our values and principles, both tactical and human. This is how I prefer it, though it functions better in some games than others; that's the nature of the sport.

“Finding the right balance is crucial, doing certain things without compromising this group's identity. Some players lacked a full pre-season and need to regain fitness; we are working to get them all involved to aid that process. We are aware of the associated risks.

“Naturally, this is a significant match before the lengthy international break, after which I anticipate having only about three players available for training.”