Chivu and Inter eye response to Milan derby defeat
Cristian Chivu felt Inter Milan's Derby della Madonnina defeat to AC Milan was "unfair" but is relishing his side's opportunity to respond against Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League.
Inter fell to a 1-0 defeat to its city rival on Monday (AEDT) despite dominating much of the match, having 20 shots to its opponent's seven and seeing a Hakan Calhanoglu penalty saved after Christian Pulisic's ultimately decisive goal.
While the result left Inter in fourth on the Serie A table, three points off current leader Roma, it has little time to rue the missed chances from that match.
Atletico is up next in Madrid on Thursday (AEDT), and Chivu wants his side, which has four wins from four in the UEFA Champions League this season, to get back on track quickly.
"The beauty of football is that after a defeat you have the chance to get your revenge and show that sometimes a result can be unfair," Chivu said ahead of the clash.
"In the derby, we showed quality, focus, and maturity; we lacked a bit of luck, perhaps clarity in front of goal.
"Tomorrow we have an equally important match ahead of us because it's the Champions League, because we know how difficult it is here, and we want to repeat the good work we've done in recent months."
Atletico has only six points in Europe, but Chivu is wary of the threat Diego Simeone's side pose.
Atleti has won 11 of its past 12 home matches in the UEFA Champions League, with no team winning more over the past three campaigns.
"Given their prestige and what they've shown under Simeone, they're a team that has the necessary qualities to go as far as possible," Chivu said.
"It's an important match. We've taken 12 points in four games; in the [UEFA] Champions League, you have to deserve everything, there are no easy games. Tomorrow won't be easy either, just like it wasn't in the first four."
