Mkhitaryan hails Chivu as Inter preps for Genoa
Henrikh Mkhitaryan believes Cristian Chivu has given Inter Milan something Simone Inzaghi couldn't as it continues to fight for the Serie A title, with Genoa up next.
Inter sits 10 points clear of AC Milan at the top of the table and has the opportunity to extend that gap to 13 points with a victory over Genoa, with its rival not playing until Monday against Cremonese.
However, Inter goes into the clash with Genoa on the back of a disappointing UEFA Champions League exit, having gone down 5-2 on aggregate to Bodo/Glimt, losing the second leg 2-1 at home in midweek.
Inter still has silverware in its sights, with a Coppa Italia semi-final against Como coming up and the Scudetto.
Having missed out on three trophies last term, Mkhitaryan feels Chivu has provided the boost the club needed.
"Obviously, you can't always have very experienced coaches," Mkhitaryan said during a speech at Bocconi University.
"We have Chivu, and he's given us something Inzaghi couldn't give us. As you can see, we're first in the league; it's not over yet, but you can see the great work we've done.
"Last year, we could have won three trophies in two weeks; we missed every opportunity. Naturally, we wanted to win at least one; that's football. No one expected it. We didn't succeed.
"After that disappointment, we found the strength to get up the next day and go to work.
"This year, we've started differently, recognising the new opportunity and doing everything we can to win something.
"We're doing well, with 12 games to go, the championship isn't over: we want to do everything we can to win it. We hope we can do it.
"In football, anything is possible; you just have to be ready to put your head down and keep going."
Inter faces a Genoa side which is in 14th on the table, three points clear of the relegation zone.
Since the turn of the year, Genoa has lost just twice – to Lazio and Napoli – while it has won three of its nine matches as it continues its bid to stay in Serie A.
