Chivu: 'Napoli are strong, I have great respect for Allegri'

On the eve of the San Siro clash, the Inter head coach revisits last season's still-unresolved meeting with Napoli and praises Allegri's side despite their loss to Como.

by Gennaro SanninoFriday 4 September, 20:21 CET· 19 hours ago

Chivu — Foto: video.gazzetta.it

Christian Chivu fronted his press conference 24 hours before Inter-Napoli and went straight back to last season's meeting between the two sides, an episode Inter still haven't fully digested.

La partita dell'anno scorso ci ha stimolato a correggere i nostri errori e le nostre debolezze

"Last year's game pushed us to correct our mistakes and our weaknesses," Chivu said. "A perfect first half, then we felt the weight of what for us was an injustice and we stopped doing our own things." A pointed reference a year on, a sign the game is still an open wound in the Inter dressing room.

The tone then shifted. "Napoli are a strong team, they've won two Scudetti in the last 4 years and it certainly won't be easy to face them after their defeat to Como. As for Allegri, I have great respect for him — he has the quality and the experience to beat Inter." Weighty words, coming from the bench of the team Allegri himself has named as the Scudetto favourites this season.

Napoli, for their part, arrive at San Siro at the lowest point of their campaign: tenth on 3 points after two rounds, still carrying the scars of a home defeat to Como despite winning away at Genoa since. Inter have won both their games and sit level on maximum points with Roma, Milan and Juventus.

Chivu's praise doesn't change the substance of the fixture. The reigning champions must prove themselves for a third straight season against one of Italian football's most decorated recent sides, and last year's meeting — with the refereeing controversy still fresh for Chivu — points to anything but a calm atmosphere at San Siro.

Kick-off is at 18:00 CET on Saturday, when Chivu's words of respect will be tested on the pitch — or Allegri's Napoli will suffer yet another missed opportunity in a season that, just two rounds in, already needs a jolt.