Chivu: ‘Players Prefer to Play Than Train’ – Inter Boss Vows Never to Underestimate Opponents

FolioPitch.com – 10 October 2026 | Cristian Chivu has dismissed concerns that Inter’s disjointed preparation for their Serie A clash with Parma could leave them vulnerable, insisting that his players would always rather be on the pitch than on the training ground. Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Friday, the Nerazzurri coach delivered a clear message: Chivu Players prefer to play than train Inter never underestimate opponents. That mantra, he explained, is the foundation of his squad’s mentality as they return to domestic action after an unusually long international break.

Inter went into the pause level on 13 points with Roma and Lazio at the top of the Serie A table, having recorded four wins and one draw from their opening five matches of the 2026-27 campaign. Twelve first-team players were away with their national teams over the past few weeks, meaning Friday was the first time Chivu had his full group back together at the training ground. Rather than fret about the lack of collective work, the coach embraced the reality of modern football.

“Not a lot has changed for me in three weeks,” Chivu said. “What changes is the wait and the training without having many players available, as well as the fact that the players who do go away with their national teams end up playing every three days. We’ve been back together for three days and today I had everyone who will be called up available. We’re all happy.”

Asked whether Saturday’s visit of Parma might serve as a test of his squad’s depth, Chivu was quick to reject any suggestion that his returning internationals would be wrapped in cotton wool. “We can’t neglect the minutes that the players have played with their national teams. We don’t want to risk them, but we’re dealing with players who are used to playing every three days. They prefer to do that than train!” he said. “You have to understand the opponent and the schedule. We have a lot of games to play before the next break.”

That philosophy is central to the coach’s approach. For Chivu, players prefer to play than train, and Inter never underestimate opponents – a dual principle that has guided the club’s maturity in recent seasons. The Nerazzurri boss pointed to last season’s record as evidence that his side have learned to handle the so-called smaller fixtures with the same seriousness as the title-deciding clashes.

“In all these years, we’ve learned to never underestimate the opponent,” he continued. “Last year, we showed our maturity, which we achieved as a team. We lost to teams who were fighting to win titles, but we didn’t underestimate the other games. It’s a matter of maturity, awareness and the desire to overcome certain situations. On paper, games don’t show the whole picture. We try to show the best version of ourselves on the pitch every time. Nothing is taken for granted and nobody gives us anything. We have quality and the confidence to go and get what we deserve.”

Chivu also addressed a number of individual situations that have dominated the Italian press during the international window. Hakan Calhanoglu withdrew early from Turkey’s camp and faced criticism from some supporters after failing to attend his national team’s match against Italy in Bologna on Monday night. The Inter coach leapt to his playmaker’s defence, revealing that the decision was his alone.

“Hakan came back on Monday, he’s been training with the group without any issues for the last week. He’s available,” Chivu said. “Rumours have come out of Turkey about the fact that he did not go and watch his teammates on Monday. The problem was me. We trained late in the afternoon and I wanted him to be there, otherwise I would have given him the day off to let him go and watch the game. We trained late in the afternoon that day and I didn’t give him the time off because I needed to work with him.”

On the goalkeeping front, Chivu refused to be drawn on whether Ivan Provedel would replace Josep Martinez between the posts, offering only a cryptic “I don’t know, we’ll see tomorrow.” There could, however, be a first Inter appearance for summer signing Djed Spence, who has been building fitness since completing a €35m move from Tottenham Hotspur. “He’s been training with us for a week, we couldn’t just ignore his rehabilitation period, plus the holidays after the World Cup,” Chivu explained. “If I add it all up, he’s missed two months of work on the pitch. He’s available, he will be called up and we’re pleased that he’s back.”

The coach also fielded questions about his tactical setup, ruling out any imminent switch from a back three to a back four. “It’s not a guarantee that playing with a back four makes you win, nor is it with a three. The most important thing is the principles you have in the game. We’re built to play a certain type of game,” he stated.

Chivu was similarly protective of his younger players. Aleksandar Stankovic, who returned from Club Brugge via a buy-back clause, has struggled for minutes, but the coach insisted the responsibility lies with him. “Maybe that’s my fault because of the relationship I’ve had with him for so many years. I held him in my arms when he was a child, we worked together in the youth teams. He knows he’s at a club with a lot of pressure and ambitions. He works seriously and shows that he knows how to stay at this level.”

On Petar Sucic, who was the subject of comments from Zvonimir Boban suggesting he should play more regularly, Chivu was measured. “I don’t want to comment on opinions too much, Boban is a great man and I know why he said these things. I don’t want to pay too much attention to Petar’s performances. He was in our top three for minutes last season. The most important thing is what a player shows me on the pitch. I don’t think it’s the case that Petar has been forgotten about on the bench, he has had the chance to come on. He’s a little further behind in terms of his condition. We don’t want to create controversy where there isn’t any.”

Finally, Chivu praised the versatility of Andy Diouf, who played at left-back in a back four for France under Zinedine Zidane during the international break. “I liked it a lot. A little nervy, but that’s also normal. I like it when a player understands that he can’t be tied to one fixed position, when they understand that versatility is important to help the team when it needs it. I also ended up as the left wing-back under Mourinho, I even ended up in midfield once or twice and enjoyed that. I know that other players aren’t the same as me and it can be a tough task convincing them. He’s played two games for 90 minutes with one of the strongest nations in the world. He’s happy to be there and to be here.”

As Inter prepare to host Parma, Chivu’s message is unequivocal: the squad’s hunger to play, rather than train, will drive them forward, and the principle that Inter never underestimate opponents remains non-negotiable. The coach also pushed back against the growing narrative that his side are overwhelming favourites for the Scudetto, asking why the focus is not on the teams who might stop Roma, Como, Juventus or Milan. “Obviously we want to achieve our goals, but we don’t need anybody to remind us how difficult it will be to go and claim the medals. It’s too early to say now. There are lots of teams on 13 points and many others just below. It’s too early to talk about who will stop who.”

With a congested fixture list ahead, Chivu’s man-management and tactical flexibility will be tested. But if his players truly prefer to play than train, and if Inter never underestimate opponents, the Nerazzurri appear well-equipped to navigate the challenges that lie ahead. Saturday’s encounter with Parma will be the first examination of that resolve.