Inter head coach Cristian Chivu shouldered the blame and questioned his tactical approach after his side suffered a stunning 4-3 defeat against Club Brugge at the San Siro on Tuesday evening in the UEFA Champions League. Nicolò Tresoldi netted a hat-trick for the visiting Belgian side, while Romeo Vermant added the fourth, leaving the Italian giants reeling from consecutive losses in Europe.
Chivu Points Finger at Himself After San Siro Collapse
The 4-3 scoreline laid bare deep defensive frailties that left Chivu searching for answers. Inter conceded four goals on their home turf as Club Brugge capitalized on defensive disorganization and rapid counter-attacks down the flanks directed by manager Ivan Leko. Speaking to the press after the final whistle, the Romanian coach made it clear that the tactical failure began on the bench.
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“I take my responsibility, because in certain games we perhaps do not find the right balance,” Chivu declared. He admitted that his halftime instructions failed to settle his players after they initially responded well to going behind. “Maybe I should have conveyed more calm and tranquility during the break,” he added.
Lost Balance and Broken Pressing Distances
Inter controlled portions of the match and created openings after the interval, but the game unraveled rapidly as panic set in. Chivu highlighted a total breakdown in structural discipline as the catalyst for the visitors’ comeback.
“We lost our balance and the distances in our pressing,” Chivu analyzed. “We started doing things that do not belong to a mature, ambitious team of our level.” The inability to manage the tempo allowed Tresoldi to run riot, securing three goals that turned the European fixture on its head and stunned the San Siro crowd.
Praise for Club Brugge and the Road Ahead
Despite his frustration, Chivu refused to use his own side’s mistakes to diminish the performance delivered by the Belgian visitors. He credited the intensity, personality, and technical qualities shown by Club Brugge throughout the 90 minutes.
“We must give credit to the opponent,” Chivu said, specifically noting their speed on the wings. However, he emphasized that Inter cannot accept such defensive fragility moving forward. “I cannot be satisfied with the number of goals conceded,” he stated, noting that the squad must adjust both tactically and mentally.
With two losses from their opening two Champions League matches, the pressure in Milan is mounting rapidly. “Above all, we must not lose confidence in ourselves,” Chivu insisted. Inter has six matches remaining in the league phase to reverse their fortunes.
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