Inter Milan coach Simone Chivu held a pre-match press conference ahead of Serie A Matchday 6 against Parma. During the third segment of the press conference, Chivu discussed Aleksandar Stankovic's development and playing time, Boban's assessment of Sucic, and Diouf's performance as a makeshift left-back for France's national team, drawing parallels with his own career to emphasize the importance of tactical flexibility.

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Reporter: Coach, hello. You just discussed Calhanoglu and showed that when planning the lineup, the fatigue of international players must be considered. Given that Zielinski is usually a regular rotation option for Calhanoglu but also plays many matches for Poland's national team, I'd like to ask: Does this mean the time is right for Aleksandar Stankovic to become a starter? After all, you specifically mentioned his name at the press conference earlier. Thank you.

Chivu: Aleksandar has come on as a substitute twice so far this season, and he can certainly get more playing time. A few days ago, I also honestly admitted at the press conference that the lack of playing time may be my responsibility. He and I have a very deep personal bond; I held him when he was a baby. Later, at Inter Milan's youth academy, we worked together every day from the U-14 level, and I watched him grow up. I'm very pleased to see him become such a composed and professional player today.

He himself is also very aware that he is at a top-tier club with very mature tactics and technique. The pressure to win the championship, the ambition, and the very high tactical standards here are completely different from a typical youth team, and I don't need to explain this to him. What makes me very proud is that he is very diligent and disciplined in daily training, doing his best to prove to everyone that he is fully worthy of playing at the highest level.

The confidence and belief he shows in daily training will ultimately demonstrate to the world his true value. He is an important member of Inter Milan's future plans; this is the fundamental tone. We are very fortunate to have him, and in the near future, he will fully demonstrate his extraordinary talent, of course accompanied by the growing pains of a young player, because no one on this team is perfect, and everyone strives to continually improve.

Reporter: Coach, hello. A few days ago, Boban openly expressed his views on Sucic, stating that a talented player like Sucic should not get so little playing time at a club. Would you like to respond to or comment on this? Thank you.

Chivu: Everyone knows that I rarely comment on external individual opinions, because after all, they are just other people's personal views. But Boban has always been a football giant who I deeply respect, and I fully understand the context in which he made this statement – it was after Croatia's bitter loss to England. However, there's no need for everyone to exaggerate or speculate about Petar Sucic's situation. To my knowledge, last season he was one of the top three pillars of the midfield in terms of playing time for the entire team. If we narrowly link everything in football to whether someone is a starter and pointless individualism, then all players on the team know that such behavior has no place in my dressing room.

In my football philosophy, the key lies in everything a player gives to the team when they step on the pitch, in fully understanding the tactical value of a super-sub, and in appreciating the tactical burden of the eleven starting players. Petar was never forgotten on the bench; he has been thoroughly evaluated, and his outstanding performances as a substitute against Monza and as a starter against Roma were very pleasing to the coaching staff. Before the international break, his competitive form did decline somewhat, but there are very clear and objective reasons behind it: he participated in the World Cup and returned late; on the journey home from Australia, because of the joy of welcoming a new family member, I personally gave him leave to fly home to be with his family welcoming the new arrival, which caused him to miss a full week of crucial pre-season physical preparation.

Therefore, I ask the media not to invent stories and create conflict. For Inter Milan, Petar is a crucial midfielder; we are very aware of his tactical value, his current ability, and his unlimited potential for the future. The whole team is pleased to have him, very satisfied with his integration into our tactical system, and greatly admires his humble character, his work ethic, and his professional integrity in dedicating his talent selflessly to the team.

Reporter: Coach, hello. I'd like to ask from a different angle: during this international break, did you notice any Inter Milan player playing in a completely new position for his national team—one they've never played for the club—and perform so remarkably that it caught your attention and made you think you might try this new approach at Inter Milan in the future?

Chivu: Why don't you just say who you mean directly, to save everyone from guessing... Diouf! Are you trying to talk about Diouf? Then let's talk about Diouf! What do you think, did you see him play as a makeshift left-back for France? In Inter Milan's tactical system, we play with five defenders and three center-backs, so he would be in the wing-back position. I watched the match, I watched the whole thing, and his performance surprised me! Although he looked a bit quiet and cautious on the pitch, this is a completely normal reaction: when you wear France's national team jersey and are forced into a completely new and unfamiliar position that you've never played for Inter Milan, and haven't even trained in for France's national team. Previously, during Inter Milan's training camps, he had several months of adaptation and training in the right wing-back position.

It's very satisfying for me to see a player no longer confined to one position, fully understanding the value of tactical flexibility, and able to fill gaps selflessly according to the team's pressing tactical needs. This flexibility demands that a player mentally let go of preconceptions, break existing habits, and reshape their tactical understanding of their role on the pitch. These words come from the heart, as someone who has experienced it: in my career, I played as left-back, center-back, left center-back in a three-back formation, defensive midfielder, playmaker, and even as a makeshift left winger under Mourinho! In an away match against Atalanta, when the team was down 2-0, Mourinho substituted me on in the 27th minute, and later, in the epic clash against Barcelona at Camp Nou, I also started as left winger in a 4-2-3-1 formation, until Motta was sent off and I had to drop back to the defensive midfield line to fight in defense. But I truly enjoyed this role change at that time!

Of course, I understand that every young person has a different personality, and patient development is still needed to fully convince and guide them to fully serve the team's overall interests. But playing two full 90-minute difficult matches for France's star-studded national team itself is a very valuable experience. He must be very pleased to have played alongside Olise and Dembele, and observed Mbappé up close in training; just as he coexists with world-class players like Lautaro, Thuram, Barella, Mkhitaryan, and Akanji at Inter Milan. I very much hope he can mature mentally and fully understand that limiting yourself only leads to self-imprisonment, and the more positions and technical skills mastered, the exponentially greater one's competitive space and playing time at both club and national team levels.

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