Chivu values work over result as Inter draw in Perth

Under the bright lights of Optus Stadium in Perth, Inter Milan and AC Milan ended their pre‑season friendly 1‑1 after a soft penalty awarded to the Rossoneri, prompting head coach Cristian Chivu to stress that the work being done on the pitch outweighs the immediate result.

Head coach Cristian Chivu told Inter TV, “I saw improvement, the lads are working hard, and at this moment the results are not as important as the work we’re doing.” He added that some players had needed minutes and the team was “inevitably lacking sharpness.”

The Nerazzurri had the better of the first half in Perth and took the lead through a well‑worked move, finished off by Federico Dimarco. Their dominance in the opening period suggested Inter were on track to control the match.

A very soft penalty was awarded after contact between Carlos Augusto and Christopher Nkunku, allowing Milan to secure a 1‑1 result in the summer Friendly. The decision sparked debate over the officiating standards in the pre‑season encounter.

There were concerns in stoppages, as Yann Bisseck received a nasty knock to the back of the head in a collision with Milan defender Pervis Estupinan. The German international was barely able to stand, required assistance from two medical staff members, and was substituted, missing post‑match duties.

Chivu reiterated earlier in Bologna that the main priority is the fitness levels of the players, respecting tactical principles and adding extra elements. He said the Perth encounter, together with the Bologna test, serves as a benchmark for the squad’s progress ahead of the new season.