'Too many labels' on Inter – Chivu defends 'great season'

Cristian Chivu says "too many labels" are placed on Inter, insisting the Serie A giants are having "a great season, despite what people say".

Inter are third in Serie A, a point behind co-leaders AC Milan and Napoli, while they occupy sixth place in the Champions League standings.

However, Chivu's side suffered a setback in Europe on Tuesday, as they were beaten 1-0 by Liverpool despite dominating large periods of the clash at San Siro.

The Nerazzurri have come under scrutiny this season, but Chivu leapt to his side's defence.

"We started the season under a magnifying glass," he told reporters ahead of Sunday's clash with Genoa.

"People said we were failures, and we were finished. But we are still up there and that is not to be taken for granted, considering what was said over the summer.

"Of course, we have margin for improvement, but we never wanted to lose our identity, our hunger, our desire to be dominant in Serie A and Europe. We are on the right track, and that is the most important thing.

"Some might say that we ought to be more negative and defensive, going for the draw, but I don't want us to lose our identity.

"Despite what people say, in my view, we are having a great season. It's true, there are ups and downs, we'd like to remove the downs, but we are confident in our work.

"We are trying to learn from mistakes, but must not lose the confidence that we are having a great season. Excluding the Club World Cup, we have had 21 games where, at most, we got two halves wrong, but never a whole match.

"This squad wants to dominate and the reality on the field is different to the narrative that people want to paint about us.

"I've been at Inter in one way or another for 20 years, so expectations are different to reality. I do not evaluate the growth process based on one victory or one defeat. I don't like labels, and too many of them are placed on Inter."

Chivu is set to meet a familiar face in the form of his old Roma team-mate Daniele De Rossi, who he played alongside between 2003 and 2007.

De Rossi, who replaced Patrick Vieira at Stadio Luigi Ferraris, is unbeaten in four Serie A matches, moving Genoa up to 15th in the table.

The last three meetings between the sides have ended in draws, and Chivu is wary of Genoa's threat.

"We need to be perfect, especially in terms of attitude against a team that found so much enthusiasm under a new coach," he added.

"It has never been easy for Inter in this fixture, so we need to give it our all.

"I had four marvellous years at Roma, De Rossi was a captain without the armband, as Francesco Totti was still there at the time. I always admired his intelligence, he is a genuine guy who is very loyal."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Genoa – Brooke Norton-Cuffy

Born in 2004, Norton-Cuffy is the youngest defender to have scored at least one goal and provided at least one assist in the current Serie A season.

The English full-back is also the defender with the third-most successful take-ons (18) in the Italian top flight this term, with only Cagliari's Marco Palestra and Verona's Rafik Belghali attempting more.

Inter – Federico Dimarco

Dimarco has provided five assists in Serie A this season – the joint-most alongside Nico Paz.

The Inter wing-back is one of only six players in Europe's top five leagues to register five or more in each of the last three seasons, along with Lamine Yamal, Luis Diaz, Bruno Fernandes, Rayan Cherki and Michael Olise.

MATCH PREDICTION: INTER WIN

Genoa have not secured a Serie A victory against Inter since a 2-0 home win on 17 February 2018 (an Andrea Ranocchia own goal and Goran Pandev strike, with Davide Ballardini as coach).

Across the 12 matches since, Inter have won nine with three draws.

Genoa are unbeaten in their last five Serie A matches (W3 D2) , though, and have won their last two – they last recorded three consecutive top-flight victories back in February 2021, under Davide Ballardini.

Chivu has won 10 of his 14 Serie A games as coach of Inter (L4), with a win rate of 71.4%.

Only Leonardo (73.9% in 23 matches) has a higher win rate at Inter in the three-points-for-a-win era (minimum five games).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Genoa – 17.5%

Draw – 22.9%

Inter – 59.6%