Chivu: ‘Como can get complacent, Luis Henrique needs confidence’

Cristian Chivu feels Inter can pounce on errors when Como ‘get a bit complacent’ and explains how he’s trying to help ‘timid’ Luis Henrique gain confidence.

It kicks off at San Siro at 17.00 GMT.

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

This is a big battle for fourth place, as there are only three points separating them in the standings going into Week 14.

It is no secret that the Nerazzurri wanted both coach Cesc Fabregas and star forward Nico Paz at the start of the season, but Como rebuffed both approaches.

“I was in the stands for this game last season with Hector Cuper, just to enjoy some football and watch Inter,” Chivu told DAZN Italia.

“Como are difficult to face, they are in good form, know how to do many things like attract the ball, press high, get down the flanks. We must be ready, focused, balanced, and at times accept their passing game while keeping our shape. We can try to win the ball back perhaps when they get a bit complacent with it.”

Luis Henrique gets his second consecutive Serie A start on the right flank, in the absence of injured Denzel Dumfries, third including the Coppa Italia.

“We are forced to do this, seeing as Denzel is out of action. We tried a few things with Andy Diouf and Carlos Augusto, but Luis Henrique is the most suited to this, as it is his role,” explained Chivu.

“We must give him confidence, as he is often criticised, but I don’t think he did any worse than anyone else in that role. He’s a timid guy, he needs to have his confidence built up, we are all trying to help him and trust he’ll repay us with those performances.”

Inter were involved in a midweek Coppa Italia win over Venezia, emerging with a 5-1 result thanks also to the Marcus Thuram brace.

With the fixtures so close together, Chivu opted against a pre-match camp keeping the players in a hotel.

“There are different ways players can achieve concentration, some need only an hour before the game, others wake up already concentrated. You don’t need a retreat for that. It is my choice that playing every three days, I wanted to give players a little extra time to sleep in, so we had breakfast together at 10.30am.”