Inter Milan are urged to show courage and avoid mistakes in their home game against Arsenal Kiev.

The 2025/26 UEFA Champions League will feature a key match in its seventh round, with Inter Milan hosting Premier League giants Arsenal at the San Siro. Manager Chivu stated in a press conference that Arsenal excels in set pieces and urged his team to show courage and minimize mistakes.

After losing to Liverpool in the last round of the Champions League, Inter Milan currently sits in 6th place in the standings with 12 points, meaning they must secure 3 points in their next match to directly advance to the round of 16. However, in their earlier Serie A match, Inter Milan defeated Udinese 1-0 thanks to a penalty goal by Lautaro Martinez, moving them to the top of the standings and successfully preparing them mentally for the crucial Champions League match.

Inter Milan coach Chivu said, "For the past few months, we have been working hard to make the team understand the importance of every game. For me, every game is equally important. A team like ours can never underestimate any opponent and must show our best. We are well aware of the importance of this game and know that our goal is to finish in the top 8 and advance directly to the round of 16. We know this will not be easy, so we must give it our all."

“We need to win, we need to be more determined and courageous, and we need to avoid mistakes as much as possible, while being fully prepared mentally. Lautaro participated in training, but he didn't participate in the rondo drills only for safety reasons. Thuram is one of our strikers, and one of the best strikers right now. Player rotation is normal, and it's important for us and for the sport of football. He has outstanding ability and is one of the top 10 strikers in the world.”

It's worth noting that Arsenal's scoring opportunities from corner kicks have always been a focus for many opponents. Chivu commented, "Our approach to defending set pieces is precisely the best way to counter Arsenal, while man-marking them might actually cause problems. We know they are very dangerous in certain situations, but sometimes we have to acknowledge their ability. They are a very high-scoring team, but they also need to be wary of us."

"We need to minimize mistakes, improve efficiency, and show the right attitude in crucial moments. A game consists of countless phases and variations, requiring mature judgment, and this team has grown a lot in understanding the game. They have many ways to hurt their opponents and are a very well-rounded team. We understand their strengths and must be able to cope with them."

In addition, when talking about Arsenal manager Arteta, Chivu said, "He is one of the youngest and most ambitious managers, with a wealth of coaching experience, and his teams have a very distinctive tactical style."