Real Madrid News
Inter Milan manager finds major positive despite Champions League loss to Real Madrid: ‘I’m not at all angry’
Cristian Chivu refused to be discouraged by Inter Milan’s 2–1 defeat to Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu, instead focusing on the character his side showed during a demanding Champions League opener.
Inter were beaten despite staying competitive throughout the contest, and Chivu was particularly encouraged by the way his players responded to difficult moments.
The Romanian manager believes the performance demonstrated that his team can compete at the highest level, even when the result goes against them.
“I’m not at all angry; on the contrary, I’m pleased with my team’s character.
“They’ve overcome difficult moments and, following certain mistakes, I’m impressed by their reaction and their body language. I have faith in the players’ determination. I’m not worried,” he said.
Chivu pleased by Inter’s approach
The Inter manager was especially encouraged by his team’s willingness to take the game to Real Madrid rather than adopting a cautious approach at one of Europe’s most intimidating stadiums.
Explaining the mentality he wanted from his players, Chivu said, “Today at the Bernabeu we tried to dominate, which makes me optimistic for the future.
“We didn’t come here to play it safe. Mistakes are part of the game. We knew we might concede goals, but we stayed in the game right until the end,” said Chivu.
Furthermore, the Inter boss also praised his goalkeeper Josep Martinez’s reaction following his serious error that led to the second goal.
That mistake could have affected Martinez’s confidence, but Chivu was satisfied with the goalkeeper’s response after conceding.
“Pepo reacted like a top-class goalkeeper after the mistake; he stayed focused and made some important saves.
“And what matters is the reaction – keeping your head up and regaining confidence. That’s what matters to me,” explained Chivu.
Inter refuse to dwell on defeat
The result leaves Inter with work to do in the remaining seven matches, but Chivu believes the performance provides reasons for optimism rather than concern.
Asked whether he was worried about losing matches his team did not deserve to lose, the Inter boss acknowledged the disappointment while stressing the bigger picture.
“There are still seven matches to go and, although we wanted to get more out of the game in Madrid, we’re coming away… well, as they say, with an undeserved result.
“But I like to take away the fact that we’re competitive and we’ve got great ambition,” he concluded.
Source: Mundo Deportivo
Real Madrid opted to renew Antonio Rudiger’s contract this past summer to keep him at the club for one more season.
The 33-year-old veteran defender, though, has not been performing at his best, with physical problems taking their toll and age starting to catch up with him.
As such, the expectation is that Los Blancos will not extend his contract again when his current one expires on 30 June 2027.
Tottenham eye Antonio Rudiger
And, according to reports relayed by AS, Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur are plotting a free-transfer swoop to sign Rudiger in the summer of next year.
The north London club are understood to be keen on reinforcing their backline next year and see the German defender as an option, given his experience in the Premier League and the fact that he would be available for free in the summer.
So far this season, Rudiger has played only five games for Real Madrid, amounting to a total of 396 minutes.
The 33-year-old has even chipped in with two goals, including the all-important winner in the 4-3 comeback victory over AS Roma on Wednesday night.
Time to move on?
Despite Rudiger being a hugely respected figure in the Real Madrid locker room, he is currently the third-choice centre-back for Jose Mourinho.
After all, summer signing Ibrahima Konate and Dean Huijsen have been preferred by the manager so far in the new season.
Moreover, with Eder Militao set to return imminently after a lengthy injury layoff, Rudiger’s game-time could be impacted further.
Given the situation and factoring in Real Madrid’s plans to sign another centre-back next summer, it is pretty much evident that Rudiger does not feature in the club’s plans for beyond this season.
As such, a separation of ways seems pretty likely when his contract expires, and Tottenham are now positioning themselves as early suitors to sign Rudiger as a free agent in 2027.
