Chivu needs Inter to fire as the pressure stays on
Serie A leader Inter Milan has struggled recently, and has another tough test on the horizon against in-form Fiorentina having seen second-placed AC Milan win to close the gap to the top of the table.
Cristian Chivu's Inter has failed to win any of its past three games in all competitions, including a loss to rival Milan and a 1-1 draw with Atalanta last time out in the league.
The Nerazzurri have scored just once across those three games, with Francesco Pio Esposito netting against Atalanta.
Milan's win over Torino on Sunday (AEDT) placed more pressure on Inter, closing the gap to just five points between the top two in the Italian top-flight.
Marcus Thuram has not scored for Inter since 9 February (AEDT), while Lautaro Martinez and Ange-Yoan Bonny are both ruled out with injury for the Fiorentina match.
So far in 2026, Inter has won 77 per cent of its matches in all competitions with Martinez on the pitch (10 of 13), scoring an average of 2.4 goals per game.
However, without the Argentinian, the Nerazzurri's success rate drops to 33 per cent (two of six), scoring an average of 1.0 goals.
"He [Thuram] and everyone else can do better, and they are aware of it," Chivu said.
"They are working every day to reach the team’s level in every way. I have no more advice to give at a time when every match becomes a final; everyone needs to take responsibility to be the best version of themselves.
"A thousand things are happening these days; you can’t mention them all. These are things that happen, and we are here to find solutions.
"You have to look at what has been achieved as well. We see our improvement, and what we need to regain in terms of energy and ambition, without losing sight of the journey and the path.
"Nobody gives you anything; you have to go out and take everything for yourself."
Fiorentina, meanwhile, has won each of its past three games in all competitions, booking a spot in the last eight of the UEFA Conference League while moving out of the Serie A relegation zone.
It remains in a fairly precarious position, though, sitting just one point clear of 18th-placed Lecce.
