Inter approach Tuesday night’s Champions League meeting with Club Bruges carrying the weight that comes with their name, but Cristian Chivu has framed ambition as a matter of responsibility rather than a promise of silverware.
Speaking at Appiano Gentile before the second matchday, the Inter coach said the club’s size demands major targets. He stressed, however, that trophies cannot be bought or guaranteed by a coach or a group of players; only daily work can move the team towards its aims.
Quick facts
- Inter face Club Bruges at San Siro on Tuesday 13 October, with kick-off at 21:00.
- The fixture is part of Champions League matchday two.
- Hakan Calhanoglu is available after taking a knock against Parma.
- Manuel Akanji said Inter want to finish among the top eight in the league phase.
- Norwegian referee Rohit Saggi will take charge of the match.
“Talking about dreams does not automatically mean talking about winning,” Chivu said. “It means understanding the responsibility. At Inter, you have to pursue high objectives, while never losing sight of the work, the path and all the elements needed along the way.”
Chivu’s message was one of patience inside a demanding environment. “There is no formula,” he added. “There is no money that can purchase a trophy like this, and no player or coach can guarantee it. The only certainty is that we have to work to reach that dream.”
Calhanoglu’s condition is one of the immediate issues for the Nerazzurri. The midfielder was struck during the match against Parma and applied ice afterwards, but Chivu confirmed that his importance to the side remains unquestioned and that he will be part of the squad.
The coach also left open the question of how heavily Calhanoglu can be used. “We will assess how he is managed,” Chivu said. “We need everyone, but we cannot put the players’ physical condition at risk.”
Akanji, who spoke before his coach, offered a similarly composed assessment of Inter’s European campaign. The defender pointed to the depth available in the squad and said the team have shown they can perform even when the starting line-up changes.
“We are very confident about the path we can take,” Akanji said. “There are many options in the group, and we can do well even with changes. I trust what can happen this season. We want to get into the top eight, then we will see what follows.”
Asked whether the Champions League should be viewed as an opportunity or a dream, Chivu insisted that ambition should not be mistaken for a fixed prediction. Inter, he said, are right to aim to go far in the competition, while retaining the belief that dreaming can help a side travel a long distance.
Saggi will be assisted by Anders Olav Dale and Ole Andreas Haukasen, with Sigurd Kringstad named as fourth official. Inter’s next European evening now arrives at San Siro, where Chivu’s call for responsibility will be tested against the first hard turns of the campaign.
