Chivu keeping Inter players on their toes
Cristian Chivu's Inter Milan looks to be turning a corner after a rocky start to the season and the manager has made it clear nobody in his squad should feel he is guaranteed a starting place.
Chivu's season began with two defeats in the opening three league games, which left Inter playing catch-up in the Serie A standings, but two successive wins have pulled it back on the heels of its title rivals.
Inter has had a successful start to its UEFA Champions League campaign, with two wins from two, and the manager was asked about his tendency to change his starting team, with his goalkeepers also sharing the role in league matches.
"For me, 'the usual' doesn't exist. I don't have superstitions, I do what I believe is right when it comes to managing players," Chivu said ahead of this weekend's Serie A game with Cremonese.
"For me, there are no rules in football, no limits. I'm not afraid, what we don't know is limitless, and there are no fixed rules.
"What does exist are the opportunities that players deserve to have, based on my instincts. There is no rule that one keeper plays only in the league and the other in the Cups. What I don't want is selfishness within the squad."
One player who has started all seven games to date is striker Marcus Thuram, but the Frenchman picked up a thigh injury during Inter's 3-0 win over Slavia Prague in midweek.
Chivu needs to select a replacement to partner Lautaro Martinez against Cremonese, but he was giving nothing away, even to his own players.
"I have an idea, and we'll see who will play alongside Lautaro. I can't reveal that now. I have nothing to hide but the players also need to feel responsible," Chivu said.
"I could announce the starting side now, but I try to make everyone accountable. In training I mix things up to make everyone feel important. Maybe today someone is angry because they think they aren't playing tomorrow.
"I want them angry because nobody should already feel safe and everybody has to be ready. I often let them know three hours before the game."
Inter is fifth in the standings on nine points, three points off the leading trio of AC Milan, Napoli and AS Roma while promoted Cremonese has made an impressive start and is level on points with Chivu's side.
