Bodo/Glimt 3-1 Inter – Chivu: ‘Pitch caused problems but no excuse; Lautaro is lost’

Inter fell to a 3-1 defeat on a cold night in Norway to a strong Bodo/Glimt side who used their artificial pitch to their advantage to overcome the Nerazzurri with a quick-fire second-half double.

Speaking to the press after the game, Chivu was quick to acknowledge the inevitable point about the pitch, saying his side “tried, despite the pitch” but also acknowledged that “it’s not an excuse, but I can’t be too harsh on the players,” he said, via FCInter1908.

He added that “[Bodo/Glimt] are more accustomed to this pitch, that’s not an excuse. The tie is wide open, there’s the return leg to come. We knew they are a team that can hurt you on the break, now we’ll try to advance to the next round at San Siro.”

Bodo/Glimt 3-1 Inter – Chivu: ‘Lautaro is lost’

Cristian Chivu also issued a pretty concerning statement that Lautaro Martinez is “lost” and when asked to elaborate on what he means by “lost”, he said “it means Lautaro got injured, it’s pretty serious.”

“I think he’s hurt and he will be out for a while,” he concluded on the matter.

The Romanian added that the Nerazzurri have “a few issues” that “we need to take stock of.”

When asked if his side showed a ‘lack of determination’, Chivu replied that “We asked for pressure on the markers but that was not the problem.”

“The problem is that on some transitions,” he added, “we were surprised by their speed on the break.”

Inter and Chivu must now prepare for the second leg, next week at San Siro. They have a two-goal deficit to overcome, and there can be no blaming of the pitch if they don’t turn the tie around.