Cristian Chivu acknowledged that Inter Milan had to “suffer” to secure a 4-3 victory over Como, recognizing his team’s “maturity” in staging a comeback after falling behind 2-0. He also took a playful jab at Antonio Conte and Max Allegri regarding the Scudetto race.
The Nerazzurri showcased their Scudetto credentials in a match where they initially trailed 2-0 to goals from Alex Valle and Nico Paz at the Stadio Sinigaglia. However, a brace from Marcus Thuram and another from Denzel Dumfries put Inter ahead 4-2. Despite a late penalty from Lucas Da Cunha, Inter held on for the 4-3 win.
Chivu Hails Inter’s Comeback Spirit
Speaking to DAZN Italia, Chivu stated, “We knew it wouldn’t be easy; we were facing a team fighting for something important, and they showed it in the first half with their mobility, pace, pressing, and intensity.” He continued, “We struggled and went down 2-0, but we got a goal back, which gave us confidence. After the break, we raised our game, showed character, and turned it around, although it certainly wasn’t straightforward.”
Inter had previously drawn 0-0 with Como in the first leg of the Coppa Italia semi-final. Even without the injured Lautaro Martinez, who was present on the bench to support his teammates, Inter has scored an impressive 102 goals in 46 competitive matches this season.
Chivu revealed, “This morning, we only worked on set pieces, knowing they could be a good opportunity to score here. It’s a testament to the hard work of my staff and the players that we are so effective in these situations. We have excellent free-kick takers and strong aerial players, so it would be a shame not to capitalize on that.”
The comeback was remarkable, especially considering Como’s strong start. This marks the second time Inter has won after conceding a two-goal deficit, with the other instance being against Pisa.
“This was a victory of maturity, where we understood the moments of the game,” Chivu added. “With seven rounds remaining, we must raise our ambitions and recognize the importance of taking the field and extending our lead over second place. We were surprised by Como’s intensity in the first half, but we reacted like a mature team.”
With Napoli drawing 1-1 with Parma and Milan losing to Udinese this weekend, Inter now holds a nine-point lead at the top of the table with six rounds left to play.
When questioned about whether the Scudetto was within their grasp, Chivu playfully remarked, “I’ll follow my colleagues who only talk about Champions League qualification and say that we are happy to get closer to that target. Mathematically, we are not there yet.”
Dumfries scored twice in the match, underscoring his importance after his recent injury layoff. “We certainly missed him, as with him, we have a different attacking option, including on set plays,” Chivu admitted. “Luis Henrique might be better at holding possession, but Denzel brings more power, presence in the box, and knows how to time his runs to the back post, as we saw today.”