Vieri ahead of Lazio vs Inter Coppa Italia final: ‘Just the beginning for Chivu’

Christian Vieri has backed Inter Milan to win Wednesday’s Coppa Italia final against Lazio, insisting Cristian Chivu’s achievements this season are only the beginning, while warning that the Biancocelesti will be a completely different proposition to the side beaten 3-0 at the weekend.

Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport ahead of the Olimpico showpiece, the former striker, who spent one season at Lazio and six at Inter, was characteristically direct in his assessment of both clubs.

“Inter is by far the best team in Italy and obviously starts as favourite,” he said. “But watch out for Lazio, they have had a thousand problems this year, but one victory can redeem everything, and that puts you on the pitch with a knife between your teeth.”

On Chivu, Vieri was unequivocal. “He does not think, unlike many in Italy, that everything is always a drama,” he said.

“It was not a drama to lose those points at the start of the season, they were needed to find the right path. Chivu has shown he is excellent because he knew those tensions during the Club World Cup were just toxins to be removed in due course. The squad was always strong. I never doubted the coach, even without much experience, and now he is champion of Italy. And this is just the beginning.”

Vieri reserved particular praise for the squad’s collective mentality.

“The players tire themselves out, from Dimarco to Dumfries, to Calha, who will be missed in this final,” he said. “And then Zielinski, back to this level also because of a stroke of genius from the coach.”

On Lautaro Martinez, Vieri was bullish about his long-term legacy. “He could become the greatest scorer in Inter’s history,” he said. “He will overtake Altobelli and, why not, even Meazza, he needs around a hundred more goals but he will not stop here. When people ask me what makes him different, I always say the same thing: he scores goals. In every way. And he is a born winner.”

Asked about Alessandro Bastoni amid Barcelona’s interest, Vieri was characteristically blunt. “He must decide for himself, with his heart and his head,” he said.

“No one can put themselves in his shoes and every choice he makes will deserve respect. He received treatment he did not deserve. For Inter he is strategic, but there are no irreplaceable players. Even Messi left Barcelona.”

On the Lazio side, Vieri singled out goalkeeper Edoardo Motta and Mattia Zaccagni as players to watch, and paid tribute to Maurizio Sarri’s work in difficult circumstances. “The fans’ protests are not aimed at the players,” he said.

“The players deserve to be applauded. Playing in front of five thousand people is demoralising. Sarri’s work has been undervalued, he has kept everything together with great dignity. But the return of the full crowd could be the key factor. I rule out that the players will approach this match with the same attitude as Saturday.”