Inter Milan manager Cristian Chivu suggested that Josep Martinez may not be in the starting lineup in the Coppa Italia final.
During last night’s post-match conference, Chivu cast doubt on the Spaniard’s chances of featuring at the Olimpico, as reported by FCInterNews.
Josep Martinez emerged as one of Inter’s heroes in Tuesday’s come-from-behind 3-2 home victory over Como.
Indeed, the 27-year-old made two crucial second-half saves to help the Nerazzurri reach the final for the first time since 2023.
However, the former Genoa goalkeeper has been Chivu’s second choice in goal behind Yann Sommer this season.
Still, he has been Inter’s starting shot-stopper in the Coppa Italia.
Despite his impressive performance last night, Martinez doesn’t have a guaranteed starting berth ahead of the title-deciding fixture.
Furthermore, Cristian Chivu jumped to Sommer’s defense amid growing criticism, suggesting he could dislodge the Spanish star in the final.
Inter Milan Manager Cristian Chivu Casts Doubt on Josep Martinez Chances of Starting Coppa Italia Final
Chivu praised the importance of several fringe players.
“Also Diouf, Sucic, Luis Henrique (and all the others). Sommer has been heavily criticised since the start of the year,” Chivu said. “Yet, he is the goalkeeper of the team at the top of the table.
“Pepo did his job; he knows why he hasn’t played much. Who said he will play the final? He is a reliable goalkeeper; he has proven it. We are happy to have three goalkeepers, including Di Gennaro.
“We have a group of 24 players who are good lads trying to do their best.”
Then, he hailed his team’s performance.
“It’s part of history, I know it because I’ve lived it,” he added. “I’ve experienced these matches, and that’s why people fall in love with this team.
“That’s the beauty of Inter Milan, of this club that delivers strong emotions you don’t see elsewhere.”
Asked what his secret is, Chivu replied: “The group, the unity of the club that supported us from the start, and the fans in this stadium. We’ve done a great job, and we believed in it.
“The players deserve it – for years they’ve put their faces on the line and tried to stay competitive. They never gave up on the dream for a centimeter. We haven’t achieved anything yet, but we are in a position to dream.
“Now we have the chance to reach two of our objectives.
“I do my job, trying not to cause damage. I try to create a healthy environment to work in. The credit goes to the players – they’ve always been judged for the objectives they didn’t reach.
“People forget they’ve been competitive for years and have made young fans fall in love with them. I know how much they believe and how much they suffer when things don’t go well.
“The credit is theirs, I repeat. We try to help them perform at their best. This team has passion for the game and for the fans.
“I have to put my own ideas aside in favor of theirs because they want to do crazy things.”
Inter Milan Boss Cristian Chivu Delivers Verdict on Como Win
“I never think about myself,” Chivu continued. “And I think about the people who gave me this important responsibility.
“I think about the fans who love these colours, my players, and everything they’ve had to go through in recent months. There’s always the same narrative around Inter Milan – it was like that in my time too.”
Finally, he addressed his tactical choices.
“I could have done more; I’m never satisfied with my work. Maybe some players deserved more minutes based on their training performances.
“I could have done better – I always think about that.
“And I’ve always believed in them, even if I may have neglected someone who needed an extra word from me.”
