Chivu defends Inter's performance despite Champions League loss

Inter suffered a disappointing 2-1 defeat in their Champions League debut at the Bernabeu. Goals from Mbappé and Valverde secured the first European victory of the season for José Mourinho's Real Madrid. The result, largely decided in the first half, stemmed from two significant errors in Inter's build-up play by Jones and Martinez. Martinez, however, redeemed himself in the second half with several crucial saves. Carlos Augusto managed to pull one back for Inter late in the game. It was a debut filled with regrets for Chivu's squad, who will host Bruges in their next match. After the game, Inter coach Cristian Chivu commented on his team's performance.

Chivu: 'Mistakes are part of the game, what matters is the reaction'

“I'm not angry at all; I'm happy with the courage and personality my team showed. Mistakes are part of the game; what matters to me is the reaction. We put in a good performance, and trying to be dominant at the Bernabeu makes me happy and optimistic about the future and the identity of this team. We knew their qualities, but we stayed in the game until the end and take the performance with us. We didn't speculate; instead, we tried to attack head-on.” These were some of Chivu's post-match statements to Sky Sport.

On Martinez: 'Why do you have to mention him?' And on Mourinho...

“Martinez? Why do you have to mention him?! What matters to me is his reaction. His reaction was top-notch because he made important saves,” the Inter coach stated emphatically about the Inter goalkeeper. He then spoke about his former coach as a player, José Mourinho: “I love him dearly for what we accomplished together, for the trust he gave me during difficult times, and for how he treated me and my family. I wish him all the best.”

“Why did I take Carlos Augusto off? He was tired, but I'm happy with what the wing-backs did, their initiative. He capped it off with a goal, but Diouf also showed courage and personality in one-on-one situations against one of the best full-backs in the world, and he was also attentive defensively. We played a great game that gives me a lot of confidence for our future,” Chivu concluded.