Royale Union SG Vs Inter Milan – Cristian Chivu Delivers Worrying Fitness Update On France Superstar: ‘Out Against Napoli Too’

Cristian Chivu delivered a worrying fitness update on Marcus Thuram ahead of Inter Milan’s European clash against Royale Union SG.
During his pre-match conference via FCInterNews, the 44-year-old also outlined Inter’s ambitions for the ongoing season.
In addition to recovering from a dismal Serie A start, Inter have gone from strength to strength in the Champions League.
Indeed, the San Siro giants dismantled Ajax and Slavia Prague in the opening two rounds.
With both wins coming ‘to nil,’ the Nerazzurri could rewrite the club’s history tomorrow at Lotto Park.
For context, Inter have never the first three games of a single Champions league season without conceding.
However, after racking up ten clean sheets in their last 11 group fixtures, that looks like a distinct possibility.
Therefore, Cristian Chivu could carve his name out in the record books.
Meanwhile, Ange-Yoan Bonny is in contention for another start, with Marcus Thuram remaining on the sidelines.
Cristian Chivu Rules Marcus Thuram Out of Royale Union SG vs Inter Milan Clash
Unlike Thuram, Lautaro Martinez was at Chivu’s disposal for Saturday’s Serie A match against Roma.
However, El Toro failed to impress at the Stadio Olimpico, but he will likely start tomorrow.
“Lautaro is fine,” Chivu said. “He hasn’t had any more problems. He only had issues before the Roma match.
“What he did on the field, the playing time, helped him shake off the cold.”
Meanwhile, Thuram is reportedly at risk of missing Inter’s trip to Naples next weekend.
“He recovered and trained regularly today. Marcus, on the other hand, needs a few more days.
“I can’t say much because we are trying to recover him, but perhaps he won’t be available for Napoli.”
Asked precisely about Thuram’s chances of joining the squad for the upcoming trip to the Maradona Stadium, Chivu replied: “As I said earlier, Marcus needs a few more days.
“We are working on his recovery, but we can’t rush it. We want him to be fully fit before returning to play.”
Chivu Doesn’t Prioritize Napoli Showdown Over Royale Union SG Clash
Despite the importance of the Napoli clash, Chivu chooses to focus solely on the game against Royale Union.
“The Champions League should not be underestimated,” he stated. “We are not thinking about Napoli right now.
“In the last three years, these players have reached two finals, and that’s no small feat.
“Some teams can’t reach two finals in thirty years. We know what it means to play in the Champions League.
“And we treat this match with the utmost attention because we must honor this club and what these players have built over the years.
“We will think about Napoli once this match is over.”
In the meantime, he hailed his attacking duo for their performance against Roma.
“We have many players who can make a difference.
“Lautaro and Bonny are two important players, but we have others who can step up.
“We are a team, and we need everyone to contribute. The collective is what matters most.”
However, he refused to confirm his starting lineup for tomorrow’s fixture.
“I can’t give the lineup,” Chivu continued. “I don’t talk about rotations but about choices regarding who starts.
“For me, there are no fixed starters; I trust all 22 outfield players plus the goalkeepers.
“Everyone is good and can start. I am happy to have such a group because they allow me to carry out the work I believe in, giving me the possibility to contribute to our journey.
“When I see happy people, I am very pleased every morning.”
Cristian Chivu Admits It’s Not Easy to Prepare for Match Like Royale Union SG vs Inter Milan
“They play the same formation, an aggressive team that presses high, defends very high, putting pressure on the opponent with a lot of intensity.
“I don’t know if they will change; we respect our opponent. In a few days, a coach can’t completely change a team’s identity, especially if they’ve won the league and already have 3 points in this competition and are first in Belgium.
“The players are more or less the same, good.
“They won against PSV in the first match, then lost to Newcastle, which can happen.
“It’s a strong team, and we must be ready because they are very aggressive.”
Yet, he stressed the significance of maintaining focus.
“We need to maintain enthusiasm,” Chivu claimed. “We are a very experienced team; we know that a misstep can set us back, but we are ready to accept it.
“Moreover, we must avoid these missteps because we are confident; we’ve delivered good performances.
“And we have the ambition to move forward by following the same path as in recent weeks, aware that difficult moments can also come.”
Finally, he underlined Inter’s lofty ambitions for this season.
“We have an obligation to think big,” he was adamant. “We are Inter. And we have a staff that allows us to work calmly on all three fronts.
“Therefore, we must be our best version and strive to win match by match to reach spring and still be in contention on all fronts.
“When I say we want to go all the way, I mean this. By late March or April, we must be involved in all competitions, or at least try to.”