Cristian Chivu led the tributes to Franco Baresi on the eve of Inter’s pre-season friendly against Manchester City, hailing the late Milan great as “a great icon” of the game.
According to Inter’s official channels, the head coach opened his press conference in Hong Kong, where the sides meet at the Kai Tak Stadium on Saturday, by paying his respects to Baresi, who died on Friday aged 66.
“We join the world of sport in sending our condolences to Franco Baresi’s family,” Chivu said. “Everyone who loves football has lost a great icon of this sport.”
Turning to matters on the pitch, Chivu said it was “truly a pleasure” to be preparing for the new campaign in such surroundings, even with both teams still short of full fitness after building up through a training camp in Germany.
Stones raises the level of Inter’s defence, says Chivu
The coach was glowing about his newest signing, John Stones, who has joined the champions on a free transfer. “I’m happy with Stones’ arrival. He is important for us for many reasons: his quality, his personality and his charisma,” Chivu said. “He raises the level of our defence.”
With a month of the window still to run and players yet to return from post-World Cup breaks, Chivu made clear his squad remains a work in progress.
“We need patience. I ask for the bar to be raised,” he said, adding that Inter would “assess the opportunities” for further reinforcements capable of taking the team to the next level.
Finally, Chivu offered warm words for Saturday’s opponents and their new manager, Enzo Maresca, who has succeeded Pep Guardiola at City. “He has already won the Championship and the Club World Cup. He is young, but he has already done very well,” Chivu said. “I think he is the right man to lead the club after Guardiola.”
