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"IT’S ON ME": CRISTIAN CHIVU ADMITS RESPONSIBILITY FOR INTER’S EARLY DEFENSIVE CHAOS

Cristian Chivu analyses Inter’s 6-2 comeback win, taking the blame for defensive errors while praising Federico Dimarco’s impact.

"It’s on Me": Cristian Chivu Admits Responsibility for Inter’s Early Defensive Chaos
Inter Milan’s Six-Goal Statement Shakes Up the Serie A Table

Inter coach Cristian Chivu couldn’t hide how impressed he was with his team after their wild 6-2 win over Pisa. Even after Swiss keeper Yann Sommer’s early mistake gifted Pisa the opening goal, Chivu took the blame: “That’s on me.”

Inter actually fell behind by two at home, but they roared back before halftime and then piled on three more goals in the second half. Not a bad way to kick off Week 22.

Chivu didn’t hesitate to shake things up. In the 34th minute, he swapped Luis Henrique for Federico Dimarco—a move that changed everything. Dimarco was everywhere, scoring one and assisting another. No wonder he took home Man of the Match.

Chivu told DAZN, “A match lasts 100 minutes, and you can always turn it around.” That confidence paid off. Sure, Pisa’s Stefano Moreo lobbed in a beauty from 30 yards, but Sommer only got caught out because Chivu had told him to play out from the back. “That’s my fault,” Chivu admitted. “I’m the one asking the keeper to do certain things, and sometimes I make it hard for Yann.”

After conceding again from a set piece, Inter didn’t fold. “Pride, quality, intensity—we showed all of that. The attitude matters most. You suffer sometimes, but it’s your reaction that counts. We did really well,” Chivu said.

He didn’t ignore the missed chances either. “We could’ve made it 4-2 earlier, but instead we waited until the end. Still, hats off to the boys. They give everything to keep this season competitive and prove we’re pushing for our goals.”

Pio Esposito put Inter ahead just before halftime with his third league goal of the season. Chivu praised him too. “He’s hungry to prove himself. He takes responsibility, just like everyone else. And if things go wrong, that’s on me—I push them hard. But I’m glad they believe in what we’re doing.”

Chivu even showed up late for his post-match interview because he needed treatment from Inter’s doctors. “I’m loaded up on painkillers for my back,” he joked. “Tomorrow, my kids want me fresh, and my wife expects it too. I need to be ready for them.”

When asked if he’d still watch Juventus-Napoli or Roma-Milan on Sunday, Chivu grinned. “That question again, huh? Honestly, I love football—it’s more than just a job to me. Sometimes I get tired because I watch so many matches, but you have to learn. If I get the chance, I’ll watch, but my family comes first. I already spend so much time with the team, and sometimes I’m not the best husband or father. They deserve my attention. Sometimes, you just have to switch off and be with your loved ones. Football’s great, but family always wins.”

TIRED OR TOUGH? THE CONFLICTING ITALIAN MEDIA REPORTS ON SCOTT MCTOMINAY’S PERFORMANCE

Scott McTominay and Napoli suffer Champions League elimination after a 3-2 home defeat to Chelsea's clinical Joao Pedro.

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Napoli and McTominay crashed out against Chelsea

Scott McTominay had a rough night as Napoli crashed out of the Champions League on Wednesday. The reigning Serie A champs missed out on a play-off spot after losing at home to Chelsea.

It was a wild night in the Champions League, and Napoli ended up as one of the biggest letdowns. Even with home advantage against Liam Rosenior's team, they only managed to finish 30th overall. Chelsea, on the other hand, walked away with sixth.

McTominay, along with Manchester United loanee Rasmus Hojlund, couldn’t stop Napoli from falling 3-2 in Naples. Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez opened the scoring, but Napoli hit back before halftime thanks to Antonio Vergara and Hojlund.

But after the break, Joao Pedro bagged a brace and sealed Napoli’s fate. The Italian press didn’t hold back in their reviews of McTominay’s performance.

Il Napolista gave McTominay a 6 out of 10. They liked his grit but pointed out he lost possession a few too many times in midfield. Still, they said he was a threat going forward—enough to give Chelsea keeper Robert Sanchez something to worry about. But in the end, it just wasn’t enough for Conte’s side.

Il Messaggero also gave him a 6. They called his first half “average”, even though the game was played at a high level. After halftime, they thought he looked tired and didn’t live up to his usual standards.

Corriere dello Sport was a bit more generous with a 6.5. They praised his fighting spirit—classic Premier League style—and said he gave it everything he had. But as Serie A’s current MVP, expectations are high, and he just couldn’t find the goals Napoli needed.

Essere Partnopei matched that 6.5 rating. They praised his energy and said he was as active as ever, moving the ball well. Still, his efforts couldn’t keep Napoli from being knocked out.

Napoli Magazine skipped the ratings but said McTominay wasn’t at his best. He’s a key player for Conte and stayed committed, but it wasn’t enough to push Napoli into the next round.

"DON'T JUMP SHIP!" — ANTONIO CONTE’S EXPLOSIVE WARNING TO NAPOLI STARS AFTER JUVENTUS ROUT

Scott McTominay and Rasmus Hojlund fail to fire as Juventus crush Napoli 3-0. Discover Conte’s defiant post-match reaction.

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Napoli slip to fourth as title rivals capitalise on defeat

Napoli just fell nine points behind in the Serie A title chase after Scott McTominay and the rest of the squad took a heavy 3-0 loss against Juventus.

The defending champs barely put up a fight at the Allianz Stadium in Turin. Juventus looked sharp, closing the gap with Napoli to just a single point. Right now, Gli Azzurri sit fourth with 43 points, Juventus are right behind on 42, and Inter still lead the pack with 52. If Antonio Conte’s side wants to catch up, they’ve got a lot of work to do.

McTominay played the whole match for Napoli but couldn’t change the game. Frustration was obvious for the visitors. Rasmus Hojlund, on loan from Manchester United, struggled again and didn’t make much of a difference up front. While his parent club edged out Arsenal 3-2 in London, Hojlund missed two decent chances in Turin. He hasn’t scored for Napoli since late December.

Romelu Lukaku finally got back on the pitch after his injury, but with just 12 minutes left, the result was already settled. Juventus were two goals up—Jonathan David bagged the first, Kenan Yildiz added another, and Filip Kostic finished things off near the end with a third.

Napoli are still missing another Scot, Billy Gilmour, and creative midfielder Kevin De Bruyne is out hurt as well. Next up, Chelsea comes to Naples on Wednesday night. Napoli really needs a win to stay in the hunt for a Champions League play-off spot.

Conte faced up to the defeat but made it clear Napoli aren’t about to give up on the Scudetto—even with all these injuries.

Conte didn’t sugarcoat things:

“As long as it was 1-0, it felt close—like we might grab a draw,” he said. “But after their second goal, things opened up, and then they scored a third. Credit to them, but also to my guys. There’s not much to say or criticise. Even here in Turin, they gave everything.

“Sometimes you get past these obstacles, sometimes you don’t. For the first time in my career, I had to bring on a player [Giovane]. I’d never even seen him in training—a kid who just joined us Saturday. That tells you something about what we’re dealing with right now.

“But we’re not quitting. We know the situation, and we’ll keep pushing. It feels like we’re out at sea in a storm, but we’re not bailing. If someone wants to jump ship, fine—they can swim to shore. The rest of us are staying on board, ready to fight with everything we’ve got, whatever comes our way.”

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