Chivu: ‘Verona saved me, Martinez difficulty for the rest of his life’

Inter head coach Cristian Chivu has opened up about his return to Verona, where he once suffered a career-threatening head injury, and has spoken about the return of Josep Martinez to the matchday squad, just four days after he was involved in a car accident that resulted in the death of an 81-year-old man near the club’s training ground. 

Chivu discussed these topics, as well as his side’s recent results and his team selection, ahead of the Serie A match between Verona and Inter at the Bentegodi on Sunday afternoon. 

You can follow the action from all of Sunday’s Serie A matches on the Football Italia Liveblog. 

Inter could bring themselves within a point of the lead of the Serie A table with a victory over Verona on Sunday after the 3-0 victory over Fiorentina earlier this week. 

Despite the Fiorentina win, Chivu believes that Inter still have plenty of room to improve. 

“The reaction wasn’t taken for granted. We have to keep doing what we have been doing, and add a little more. It’s in our DNA to do better,” he told DAZN before kick-off against Verona. 

Chivu has plenty of trust in Ange-Yoan Bonny and Petar Sucic, who are in the starting line-up again on Sunday. 

“They are just as good as Luis Henrique, Diouf, Pio Esposito, even if the Frenchman hasn’t had much of a chance but his time will come,” Chivu said. “I have a group of fantastic players, who believe in this team and in our dream.” 

Verona is a meaningful city for Chivu, who once fractured his skull after a shocking clash of heads with Chievo striker Sergio Pellissier. Chivu required surgery after parts of his skull had caved in, and once he returned to playing, always wore a protective helmet for the rest of his career. 

“A lot of time has passed. It was a rebirth for me here. I lost, but also gained a lot that day. I realised that the most important things in life are not winning or losing, but rather, to appreciate a career that does not last for long. 

“I’m happy, I came back here with Parma last year, but I don’t think about what happened to me, but about the city, which gave so much to me. They saved my life in that hospital and I still thank them after all these years. Verona is a fantastic place.” 

And, on Josep Martinez, who is in the matchday squad despite being involved in a traumatic incident earlier this week, Chivu said:“We’re thinking of him and helping him as a club, but we’re also thinking about the family of the deceased. 

“We’ve got to look after him and think about the difficulties he will have for the rest of his life. We will stand close by him, the togetherness of the group will be important.”