MILAN (ITALPRESS) – “For me Arsenal and Bayern are among the strongest in Europe but this does not mean that we start defeats. We will try to play our game, we will do our best in understanding the moments, what the opponent will offer us and that will make us suffer”. Cristian Chivu and his Inter are ready for the crash test against the Gunners. After an excellent start in the Champions League Phase, the defeats with Atletico Madrid and Liverpool slowed down the track to a place between the first eight that assigns the direct pass for the eight and a false step tomorrow could permanently compromise the Nerazzurri chance to bypass the play-offs.
“All the games are important, regardless of the opponent – the Romanian technician emphasizes – A team like ours must never underestimate the opponent, be careful. Our goal is to end in the first eight to go straight to the next round. We are also working to dispose of what from outside says a taboo – the reference to direct clashes that so far the Nerazzurri have failed to win – We are aware that it is never simple, you will have to be ready mentally and physically and wrong as little as possible. The Arsenal has so many ways to hurt us, it is a complete team, we are aware of what Arsenal is right now. We face one of the strongest teams in Europe, they have spent, they have built an identity, they have players who can put you in trouble, they have been dominant in the Premier and this year they are in the lead, they are making an important season. But we know the Champions, the British teams, the moments of a game, we are aware of what we have become in the last years in Europe, we know how to face these games and we will try to be our best version also tomorrow”.
Inter will also rely on the found defensive solidity: “Merito of 22 players applied to the cause. The defensive phase is not done with the single department but with the whole team. We take risks but we have players able to maintain the level of attention and determination in the defensive phase,” adds Chivu, who spends beautiful words for his colleague Arteta. “From other coaches there is always to learn, it is demonstrating to be a strong, good coach, who has so many ambitions, with a society behind that has tradition and ambition.”.
Manuel Akanji also attended the press conference: “The Arsenal is among the best teams in Europe, the strongest for me right now is the Bayern but the Arsenal is among the best. They have a very deep rose, with so many players who can stop holes if someone misses, they have a constant performance and this is important if you want to be competitive on all fronts – he adds – It will be effective because any error can be punished: We’re gonna have to be bad under the door and clean in the possession phase. It will be a great challenge but I am confident that we will be ready.” From the defensive point of view the Swiss defender also recognizes that “we have made progress, we have improved and we have seen in the last games. We don’t give great opportunities now, before we took more goals, and even in attack we found interesting ways to score.”.
As for goals, no mystery: “We want to win the shield and the first goal in Champions is to end in the first eight of the first phase. Then we will see, everyone knows what Inter is capable of.” Finally, on the noises in England on the hypothesis that City can call it from the loan in this market due to the emergency in defense, Akanji is categorical: “No chance. In summer I don’t know, it doesn’t just depend on me, we see what happens at the end of the season, I hope I can continue here.”.
– photo Ipa Agency –
(ITALPRESS).
