APPIANO GENTILE - Cristian Chivu is ready to return to action and can't wait. The Nerazzurri defender has not played a competitive match since the game at Hajduk Split on 2 August, but he's ready to play a part. "I feel good, the last four months were tough, but I'm better now," he told RaiSport. "I've tried not to get too worked up about these last four months and just get over the injury, and here I am, I'm over it. There were complications, which meant I needed a second operation, but now I feel fit enough to help out."
What has Chivu made of Inter's season: "We're a side that still needs to improve, but we've shown we can get big results, that's why we're second. We've made progress and will continue to do so. I'd have taken second in December, had you asked me back in August. Now we'll keep working. Three at the back? We've won a lot of matches with a back three, it's working. But we can also play well with a back four. What's my position? Centre back, I haven't got the legs to play left-back any more! Either way we've already spoken about it, I'll play centre back. Of course there'll be competition for places because all our centre halves are excellent, but that's a good thing."
Chivu then asked whether Juve could be caught: "They're the team to beat. We know how good they are but there's still half the season to go. Technically speaking there's not a lot between Juve and Inter. Perhaps they have a slight psychological edge, being reigning champions. We need more consistency now, and need to beat the smaller teams."
The Romanian was also asked to comment on the refereeing mistakes which have cost the Nerazzurri: "Yes, there have been mistakes - some big ones too - but we're all human and these things can happen. I only hope these were honest mistakes."
Tomorrow Hellas Verona travel to the San Siro for the last 16 of the Coppa Italia, "another trophy we can win, you need to win 5 matches and we want to do it."
Finally a word on Chivu's future: "My future? At Inter! At least I hope so, if they don't get rid of me! I'm joking, I'm happy, really happy here and the club is happy with me: I'll finish my career here."
