Bastoni: ‘Chivu brings fresh Inter enthusiasm’ after painful 5-0 defeat

MILAN, ITALY – APRIL 02: Alessandro Bastoni of FC Internazionale warms up prior to the Coppa Italia Semi Final match between AC Milan and FC Internazionale at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on April 02, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Alessandro Bastoni feels Cristian Chivu is bringing ‘fresh enthusiasm’ to Inter after the harsh ending to the Simone Inzaghi era. ‘I have not been able to give myself an explanation’ for the Champions League Final.

The Nerazzurri ended the season with a series of heavy blows, losing the Serie A title by a single point to Napoli, beaten 5-0 in the Champions League Final by Paris Saint-Germain, then seeing coach Inzaghi walk away for a new experience at Al-Hilal.

“We had four marvellous years together, then he made this decision. We have no complaints and speak to him often,” Bastoni told reporters in Los Angeles.

Bastoni and Inter ready for Club World Cup

They are there for the Club World Cup, which opens for them against Monterrey on Wednesday at 02.00 UK time, then facing Urawa Red Diamonds and River Plate.

“It is not easy, but our job means we’ve got to start again, try to look at the positive aspects of the season that is coming to a close and start a new era. What we absolutely must do is bring in fresh enthusiasm.”

That is provided by new coach Cristian Chivu, who has a long history with Inter as a player first in the Treble-winning squad of 2010, then as manager of the youth team at various academy levels.

“We’ve got to find that energy and the coach is helping. He pressed us on the importance of the journey we’ve had in recent years, the great things we achieved,” continued Bastoni.

“We already asked ourselves why the Champions League Final went that way, it is only a human response to wonder. I have not been able to give myself an explanation for that night, but thank God this profession allows us to put it in the past and move on. We’ve got another opportunity and want to do as well as possible.

“I was immediately struck by Chivu on a human level. I already knew him, because he was the coach of the Primavera youth team, but perhaps we needed to hear him tell us all that we achieved in these years. I was really impressed by him.

“The coach and (assistant manager Aleksandar) Kolarov will need to work on our mentality, because these have been long and draining seasons.”

Bastoni is also an Italy international and saw a change of coach there too, with Luciano Spalletti sacked to make way for Gennaro Gattuso.

“Eras are not infinite, players and coaches must share the responsibility when things go badly, but this is what happens in football and we must be ready for anything.”