Chivu Defends Bastoni Amidst Criticism, Calls for 'Psychological Work' for Haters

Inter Milan coach Cristian Chivu has strongly defended defender Alessandro Bastoni against a wave of criticism, referring to it as a "witch hunt" and suggesting that those who criticize him may be the ones in need of "psychological work."

Speaking to Sport Mediaset before a Serie A match against Como, Chivu addressed the ongoing scrutiny surrounding the Italian international, who has faced significant backlash since February. Bastoni was booed by some away supporters following an incident where he was involved in and celebrated a red card for Juventus defender Pierre Kalulu in a Serie A fixture. This followed a red card he received while playing for the Italian national team in a World Cup playoff final against Bosnia and Herzegovina a few weeks prior.

"Alessandro doesn't need to be psychologically 'fixed.' People have gone all out against him, creating a real witch hunt," Chivu stated. "I think they're the ones who might need some psychological work."

Inter recently ended a three-game winless streak with a 5-2 victory over Roma at San Siro. The Nerazzurri currently lead Serie A by seven points over Napoli and are also competing in the Coppa Italia semifinals.

Chivu expressed his satisfaction with the team's position heading into the final two months of the season. "Being the Inter coach means having important ambitions," he said. "I'm happy because we're heading into the last two months of the season with the chance to achieve our objectives. We have a duty to believe we can win everything still up for grabs."

He concluded by emphasizing his consistent approach: "My principles go beyond the expectations of someone else's narrative. I haven't tried to change. I've always remained myself. I don't feel the need to make bold statements or seek our conflict."