Massimiliano Allegri and Cristian Chivu: Their Long-Distance Exchange of Courtesy Heats Up the Inter-Napoli Rivalry

Inter‑A match against Napoli is never just another game, and the one scheduled for Saturday, September 5, at 6 p.m.—part of the third matchday of Serie A—heated up well in advance thanks to a curious exchange of views from a distance, during their respective pre-match press conferences, between Cristian Chivu and Massimiliano Allegri. No barbs were exchanged—rather, it was a back-and-forth marked by respect and minor clarifications that are already adding extra spice to the showdown at San Siro.

The Inter coach responded with a touch of irony to a question he’s starting to grow weary of: “You’re always talking about ‘direct showdowns,’ but what exactly are direct showdowns? I don’t understand if they’re against the top four, against traditional powerhouses, or even against teams fighting for the same goal. Milan and Juventus finished so far back last year—were those direct showdowns? Do teams like Como fall into that category? I’m asking just to understand,” said Chivu, smiling.

The Nerazzurri coach then recalled last year’s first-half match against Napoli, a 3-1 loss amid controversy at the “Maradona,” calling it the game that most helped the team grow. “The first half was excellent; the second was marked by an emotional reaction to an incident perceived as unfair. That match taught us to manage our emotions better and to never stop doing what needs to be done, even when the tension rises.”

The Inter coach also wanted to reiterate his respect for Allegri: “He’s won six Scudetti and reached two Champions League finals. We young coaches must learn from figures like him. Didn’t I lose to his team last year? There’s no need to remind me of that. We all know it, we’ve accepted it, and we’ve bounced back.”

From Castel Volturno, meanwhile, Allegri responded in his usual pragmatic and straightforward style to the standard question about the significance of this match in the race for the Scudetto: “Calm down—it’s only the third matchday; everyone tends to get too excited or too down too quickly. The loss to Como has been analyzed, the technical errors corrected, and the team arrives at San Siro with confidence.”

Then the Livorno-born coach sent a message to Chivu: “The last four titles were won by Napoli and Inter; I think they’re the favorites for the Scudetto. However, in soccer there are games to play and games to win: Saturday’s match falls into the first category, because early-season matches are very unique—everything can change in an instant. There will be a fantastic atmosphere; let’s focus on that.”