Sacchi spots one Inter issue for Chivu to fix: ‘I’m sure he’ll know what to do’

Arrigo Sacchi believes that Inter should shift their focus to Serie A after drawing level with Bayern Munich and Arsenal at the top of the Champions League standings on Wednesday night, and has spotted one minor issue that Cristian Chivu needs to fix: ‘A bit more attention is needed’. 

Inter maintained their 100% win record in the Champions League with a 2-1 victory over Kairat in San Siro on Wednesday night thanks to goals from Lautaro Martinez and Carlos Augusto. 

Ther Nerazzurri have a maximum 12 points from their first four games in the competition this season, but unlike Arsenal or Bayern, do not currently lead their domestic league. 

With qualification to the Champions League knock-out rounds effectively guaranteed for Inter after four matches, Sacchi believes that Chivu can afford to focus on Serie A for the time being. 

“I believe that Chivu and his boys, having secured their spot in the next round of the Champions League, must focus on the league and impose their strength,” Sacchi wrote in his La Gazzetta dello Sport column. 

“Managing energy levels in a long and stressful season is essential if you want to be fresh and fighting in the spring, which is always a decisive time,” he continued. 

“It’s not a matter of making calculations, or prioritising one game over the other, but it’s a matter of using logic when rotating players.

“Now, an exact plan has to be made if Inter want to get to the end of the season in the best possible shape.”

Sacchi believes that Inter have an attacking department that rivals the very best across Europe, but feels that if there is one issue that needs fixing, it is in the defensive phase. 

“Of course, not a lot of teams across Europe have four strikers like Lautaro, Thuram, Bonny and Esposito, and this is an advantage that should be exploited. Chivu does very well at rotating them, everyone seems involved. 

“Perhaps, if we’re being nit-picky, something could be fixed in the defensive phase. I’m talking about the whole defensive phase, and not the defence as a separate department from the rest of the team. 

“In certain situations, a bit more attention is needed. But I’m sure that Chivu, who was a great defender in his time, will know what to do and how to intervene.”