Inter coach Cristian Chivu has spoken highly of Napoli manager Massimiliano Allegri as the two sides ready themselves for a major Serie A assignment on Saturday. The Nerazzurri will host Napoli at San Siro looking to protect a perfect start to the domestic campaign after taking maximum points from their first two outings.
Chivu salutes experienced rival
Chivu, who is still in the early stages of his managerial career, offered warm words for his opposite number. Speaking via TuttoMercatoWeb, he described Allegri as a figure young coaches can learn from. “He is a winner, he has a certain amount of experience and he has everything that we young coaches want to learn,” Chivu said.
The Inter boss also made clear that his squad will not dwell on past disappointments. Napoli defeated Inter in both league meetings last season, but Chivu argued those results offered a valuable lesson rather than a lasting blow. “I learned my lesson,” he explained. “We arrived as winners in the end even though by the third matchday I had already lost two. All matches are important.”
Identity and squad unity
Despite the quality of the opposition, Chivu insisted his players must stick to their principles rather than allowing Napoli to set the tempo. “We must be ourselves. The determination, courage and desire to dominate must never be lost,” he stated. He added that the group carries “a very precise identity of who it wants to be.”
The Romanian also underlined the importance of squad harmony. He wants every member to feel involved whether they begin the match or enter from the bench, and he accepted that he grew from errors made during his debut campaign. “Last year I made mistakes, but I hope I have learned,” he admitted. “We are all in the same boat. The skill is in going in the same direction.”
Early table and European timeline
Inter have collected six points from their opening two matches and will view this fixture as a chance to build early momentum. Victory against a fellow contender would reinforce their position at the top before attention shifts to the Champions League.
Napoli’s arrival at San Siro marks the last significant domestic test before Inter’s continental programme begins. With both clubs expected to challenge at the summit again, Saturday’s result could carry weight in the long-term title picture.