Chivu: Inter Must Focus on Themselves in Title Race, Not Rivals' Mistakes

Inter coach Cristian Chivu asserts that the Serie A title race remains wide open, stating, "We must not dwell on the errors of others, as those are beyond our influence."

Inter is set to face Fiorentina at the Stadio Franchi tomorrow. The team will be without the injured Alessandro Bastoni for the trip to Tuscany, and his participation in Italy's World Cup play-off semi-final against Northern Ireland is also uncertain.

Chivu's Pre-Match Press Conference Ahead of Fiorentina vs. Inter

During today's press conference, Chivu confirmed that Bastoni would still join the Italian national squad for medical evaluation by the Azzurri's doctors. Last week, neither Chivu nor any Inter player addressed the media following their contentious 1-1 draw against Atalanta.

"It was a collective decision made after the events on the pitch. I prefer to always discuss football and avoid concentrating on matters that could serve as excuses," Chivu stated. "In that game, we committed some technical and tactical errors. We've questioned how we could have performed better. We must not concern ourselves with the mistakes of others, as those are beyond our influence. After a week of hard work, we are prepared for tomorrow's match."

Napoli's victory over Cagliari on Friday brought them six points behind Inter. While the Nerazzurri still hold a game in hand, the question of pressure from rivals arose. "Football inherently involves pressure. The season remains lengthy, and anything can happen," responded Chivu, who will be serving a one-game suspension tomorrow.

"We are fully aware of our progression, our accomplishments, and the aspirations of other teams who, quite rightly, believe they can contend until the very end. With 27 points still up for grabs in an era where wins are worth three points, anything is truly possible. Our focus is on maintaining competitiveness and performing at the high level we've demonstrated thus far. We must continue to concentrate on our own game and bring even greater consistency to our aspirations and our overall campaign in the league."

Lautaro Martinez will be unavailable for tomorrow's game due to injury. Additionally, Ange-Yoan Bony is grappling with dental problems, and Marcus Thuram has not scored in Serie A for over a month.

Chivu remarked, "He [Thuram] and every other player have the capacity to improve, and they acknowledge this. They are dedicated to daily work to meet the team's standards in all aspects. At this stage, where every match feels like a final, I have no more advice to offer; everyone must assume responsibility to perform at their peak. Numerous events unfold these days; it's impossible to list them all. These are simply part of the game, and we are here to discover solutions. He [Bony] experienced a dental issue prior to the Atalanta match and again this week. He will certainly address it next week during the international break. The season brings a mix of everything; it's natural to encounter periods that are less brilliant than others. One must also consider what has already been accomplished. We observe our progress and what we need to reclaim in terms of energy and ambition, all while keeping our journey and trajectory in clear sight. Nothing is handed to you; you must go out and seize everything for yourself."