Cristian Chivu insists Inter being Serie A's winter champions "counts for nothing", despite their six-point lead at the top of the table.

With second-placed AC Milan not playing until Thursday, the Scudetto frontrunners took full advantage to extend their cushion at the summit, as Francesco Pio Esposito's late strike sealed a narrow 1-0 victory over Lecce at San Siro.

Inter bounced back from their 2-2 draw with Napoli three days earlier, during which they were pegged back twice by the reigning Scudetto holders.

Top of the table at the midway stage of the Serie A season, the Nerazzurri are officially the league's winter champions, but Chivu was quick to dismiss the importance of that feat.

"I have won this semi-title of winter champion before in my career, but it counts for nothing, what matters is being there in May," he said.

"What this means is that we're competitive, but as I said the other day, it'll be a battle to the end for every single point.

"I expected it to be difficult, because when you use up as much energy as we did in the game with Napoli on Sunday and didn't get the full result, that weighs on you. 

"Despite the difficulties finding a way through and the right sharpness to make certain choices, this team had the right attitude, it believed to the end and had the heart to carry home the victory."

Chivu also paid tribute to match-winner Esposito, a player he previously coached in the Nerazzurri's youth ranks, after the coach sprinted down the touchline following the game's decisive goal to embrace the 20-year-old.

"I remember this little seven-year-old kid. We practically grew up together," Chivu continued. 

"I know him inside out, his family, his ambition, his work from the youth academy.

"He was my captain in the Inter Primavera squad, and I am happy for him, just as I am happy for the whole team, because this was a really complicated game."