Chivu wants Inter to take control against Real Madrid in Champions League opener

Inter manager Cristian Chivu says his side must be brave enough to control the game when they face Real Madrid at Santiago Bernabeu in their opening UEFA Champions League league-phase fixture on Tuesday.

The Italian club go into the meeting with confidence after winning all three of their matches so far this season. Inter have beaten Monza, Cagliari and Napoli in that order, but Chivu knows they will face a significantly different challenge in Madrid.

“We want to be the team in control, even here at Santiago Bernabeu,” Chivu said during his pre-match news conference.

The fixture has particular significance for Chivu because of his relationship with Jose Mourinho, who is currently among those who believe Inter could have the quality to win the competition.

Chivu played under Mourinho when the Portuguese manager was in charge of Inter in 2010, and said the former coach had supported him during a difficult period in his life.

“Jose Mourinho is special to me and I was lucky to meet him. He helped me during a difficult period in my life and I will never forget that. We shared many beautiful moments together,” said Chivu.

Inter enjoyed a highly successful period under Mourinho, and Chivu was part of the team during the 2010 campaign. His respect for the manager remains clear, although the focus now is on guiding his own side through a demanding Champions League campaign.

Chivu also played down the idea that winning the competition can be achieved through reputation or expectation alone. He described the tournament as unpredictable and said Inter’s progress had been built primarily on their work.

“The Champions League is a deceptive competition and you need a little luck. Thanks to our work, we have reached a position where people such as Mourinho believe that we can win it,” he added.

The revised Champions League format means teams must collect enough points during the league phase to secure a place in the last 16 without having to play in the knockout play-offs. Chivu believes Inter will need at least 16 points to finish among the top eight, although he admitted that total may not guarantee their place.

“We need at least 16 points to avoid the play-offs and qualify among the top eight. Maybe that will not be enough, but we will approach each match one at a time,” he said.

Inter’s perfect start domestically provides momentum before their trip to the Spanish capital, but Real Madrid represent their first European test of the campaign. Chivu’s message is that Inter will not travel simply to defend or contain their hosts: they intend to compete for control at one of football’s most demanding venues.