Chivu eager for Inter ‘reaction’ and wants ego set aside

Cristian Chivu is eager to see ‘a reaction’ from his Inter players against Lazio this evening after some sluggish performances, reassuring they all ‘leave ego to one side.’

It kicks off at San Siro at 19.45 GMT.

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from today’s five Serie A games on the Liveblog.

Although they are coming off back-to-back victories against Verona and Kairat Almaty, the performances were less comfortable than expected, which prompted the coach to demand a response. Did he get that?

“We will see this evening if there has been a reaction, as it’s too easy to give a response in training, especially as we get so few training sessions when playing every two days,” Chivu told DAZN Italia.

“I know that I am dealing with a mature group of lads, who know what they want and when mistakes are made, so they understand what their strengths and weaknesses are.”

Francesco Acerbi returns to the starting XI after being dropped for three games in a row, but Marcus Thuram is again on the bench after a calf issue.

“When there are 22 players, you need to maintain a balance and make sure you can count on everyone. We have many games to play, so we have to deal with the individuals as well as the team unit. I received understanding from some who perhaps felt they were less involved or even left out, and that is the strength of our group, they are ready to leave ego to one side and know they will always have something to contribute.”

During Acerbi’s absence, Chivu had been using Yann Bisseck in central defence, making the most of his pace to cover large areas.

“We are working to improve, knowing when to push, when to hold back, the importance of keeping the shape and not leaving unnecessary gaps,” concluded Chivu.

This is a huge opportunity for the Nerazzurri to go top of the table, as Napoli lost 2-0 to Bologna this afternoon, while AC Milan fumbled a lead in their 2-2 draw at Parma.

A win can therefore put Inter joint top with Roma, who just beat Udinese 2-0 at the Stadio Olimpico.