In 2005, while playing as a defender for AS Roma, Chivu publicly praised Fabio Capello, then coach of Juventus. This act was not forgiven by Roma`s fans.
Cristian Chivu learned a fundamental lesson the hard way: never reveal your preferences, especially in football. During his time as a defender for AS Roma, the Romanian was a defensive stalwart, admired for his precise passes and strong bond with his first Italian coach, Fabio Capello. However, an expression of esteem for Capello, who had moved to Juventus in the summer of 2004, ignited the fury of Roma fans. They branded him a traitor, booing him every time he touched the ball. Chivu recounted in a past interview with Cronache di Spogliatoio: “I said I would have liked to work with Capello again. The next day, the media immediately reported `Chivu to Juventus`, but it wasn`t true. And I paid for it.” This episode, which occurred before he took on coaching roles at Parma and then Inter – the team he will lead against Juventus at the Allianz Stadium on Saturday – had a profound impact on him.
What Exactly Happened
This incident dates back almost twenty years, to November 2005, following Roma`s 1-1 draw against Strasbourg in the UEFA Cup. Speaking on Sky, Chivu openly expressed his appreciation for Fabio Capello, who had already been managing Juventus for over a year. “He brought me to Rome and I will always thank him,” Chivu stated. “It would be a pleasure to work with him again. I`m here, I still have two and a half years on my contract. But in football, you never know, we players don`t make the decisions.” These words were perceived as an unforgivable affront by Roma fans. Two weeks later, upon his return to the starting lineup, the Stadio Olimpico booed him throughout the entire match. Roma suffered a home defeat to Palermo, with Luca Toni troubling both Chivu and Mexes for one of the goals. La Gazzetta dello Sport gave him a rating of 5, commenting: “Soft. Couldn`t get a pass right,” a harsh judgment on his performance.
Chivu in 2007, before his transfer to Inter.
Chivu and his statement about Capello in 2005.
Anxiety and Stress
Chivu found himself in a very difficult situation. At just 25 years old, he faced the entire stadium against him because of a statement which, he claimed, was made without malice and in favor of his former coach. “I suffered deeply from it,” he confessed. “During that period, I was seeing a psychologist. After matches, I would vomit from stress and anxiety; I couldn`t get out of it, so I sought help.” The booing only ceased after a derby victory against Lazio on February 26, 2006 – a historic day when Spalletti secured Roma`s eleventh consecutive Serie A win, a club record at the time (later surpassed by Inter in 2006-07). For Chivu, that match earned him a 6.5 rating: “Struggling at the start, he grew as the minutes passed. And a couple of recoveries proved decisive.” In 2007, Chivu left Roma to join Inter, another moment of great tension. On July 20, during the team`s presentation at Flaminio, Roma ultras hurled racist insults like “gypsy” and hostile chants, including “Chivu go away” and “bastard.” The press at the time reported his composed reaction: Cristian walked onto the field with his head held high and trained professionally, showing no signs of being affected or intimidated by the protest. This resilience was a direct result of the psychological support he had received years earlier.
