Following a draw against Monterrey and a victory over Urawa Red Diamonds, Inter Milan is set to face River Plate for a spot in the Club World Cup round of 16. The match is scheduled for Wednesday, June 25th at Lumen Field in Seattle, kicking off at 6:00 PM local time (3:00 AM on June 26th in Italy).
Inter coach Cristian Chivu held a press conference ahead of the crucial match against the Argentine side.
When asked about the upcoming game against River Plate and comments about the pitch conditions:
“It will be a difficult match, just like the previous two; it`s never easy. The physical condition is also better than European teams, so we`ll need mental and physical energy to perform at the required level. We can`t complain about the pitch; even in LA, they weren`t perfect, but we adapt. The facilities themselves are optimal, though clearly not the same as in Europe as they are more suited for American football. This pitch, specifically, is synthetic with grass laid over it, but it`s not bad.”
On this being his first `do or die` match:
“Nothing changes for us. We came here with a specific mentality and we treat every match with seriousness. Perhaps some were a bit pessimistic after the first game, but we will give our maximum energy and keep moving forward.”
Regarding the impact of young players:
“I`m happy with everyone, including the new arrivals. Luis Henrique immediately made himself available after three weeks of vacation. Let`s always remember these are official matches, not friendlies; it`s a World Cup. Everyone has tried to do their best. At the 75th minute, Luis Henrique told me he still had energy, even though I knew he was pushing his limit. These are positive attitudes. All the Primavera boys like Cocchi, Berenbruch, Re Cecconi, De Pieri are also doing well. Players like Valentin Carboni and Pio Esposito, I don`t even consider them just `youngsters` anymore because they raise the level just like the more experienced players.”
His thoughts on River Plate and Marcelo Gallardo:
“I have great respect for him, both for what he achieved as a player and as a coach. He has had fantastic results with River Plate. River has world champions in their squad. We`ll see Mastantuono reaching high levels. I`m pleased to see Colidio because I had him in the Primavera squad; he always raised the intensity in training, and I look forward to embracing him. In Europe, we also follow River Plate for what they represent and the talent and results they have produced.”
On whether Mastantuono could be a world-class talent:
“Let`s remember he`s a 2007-born player who has already played many matches. The other day, watching videos, he reminded me of Di Maria in how he uses his left foot. We`re talking about a strong player who will be a delight for the future of football. At Real Madrid, the demands will be different, but he will be up to the task.”
About the team atmosphere and his satisfaction with the climate created:
“They listened to my advice not to read the newspapers (laughs). If you constantly mention and repeat the result from Monaco, it`s hard to move forward. We focused on something important: finding a bit of humanity and kind words. When you`re dealing with a group of men who are always there for each other, through good and bad, everything becomes simpler to overcome. This team has motivation and mentality: they achieved the second star, reached two Champions League finals and one Europa League final. You shouldn`t only look at what you`ve won. They are true champions and know that what matters is tomorrow. They know they have to work harder and also get dirty. To perhaps `eat a bit of dirt` and chew it well while looking themselves in the mirror. It`s pleasing to see their responses despite a difficult moment. They always try to look their teammates in the eyes.”
Regarding tactics if River Plate mirrors their 3-5-2 and the significance of finishing first:
“What we can control is what we do today and what we will try to do tomorrow. Qualification is not yet certified. We need to think about what we have to do tomorrow and see if River Plate sets up to mirror us. How they line up only matters to a certain extent; we need to focus on ourselves. Understanding how to approach the opponent depending on their setup. We need to know that there are different moments in a match and understand the flow of the game. We think more about ourselves than others. We need to add something extra sometimes, hoping the performance is at a high level.”
