Inter’s Cristian Chivu has a clear idea about the “Derby Curse”

Seven consecutive derbies without a win is an anomaly that’s hard to ignore for a team like Inter, which—at least in the league—has finished ahead of Milan in the standings for the past four seasons. Cristian Chivu, taking this statistic into account, does not want to let the team’s losing streak in head-to-head matchups become an obsession on the eve of the Milan derby.

The Inter coach, who has been at the helm of the Nerazzurri since the summer of 2025, addressed the issue head-on: “If we haven’t won the derby in seven games, we should be asking ourselves a question,” he admitted at a press conference. “At the same time, that doesn’t mean the guys haven’t given it their all; in individual matches, there have also been moments that didn’t go our way.”

Chivu believes that to break the losing streak, there are specific factors to take into account. “We need balance and motivation; we also have to be willing to make an extra sacrifice. We certainly shouldn’t be looking at the standings, nor can we be satisfied with what we’ve done so far. Especially since this is a derby, we have to show our best side.”

Chivu’s comments come at a pivotal moment in the season. In Serie A, Inter has, in fact, impressed nearly everyone, earning 25 points in the first nine matchdays and sharing first place with the surprising Lazio. Their European campaign has been less impressive: in the Champions League, the Nerazzurri didn’t earn their first points until Matchday 3, losing their first two matches against Real Madrid and Club Brugge and defeating Shakhtar 1-0 at San Siro despite playing a man down.

The real taboo, however, remains the Madonnina derby. Inter’s last victory dates back to April 22, 2024, when goals by Acerbi and Thuram secured the win for the Nerazzurri, rendering Tomori’s goal for Milan meaningless. Since then, the balance has shifted decisively in favor of the Rossoneri: five wins for the Diavolo and two draws in the subsequent seven derbies.