The former Chievo player and the 2010 headbutt with the Romanian at Bentegodi: “Cristian has been reborn with mental strength, the same strength he has as a coach.”
A dull thud, then nothingness, finally the light, which comes back on and illuminates everything in a different way. For Cristian Chivu, the Bentegodi in Verona will always be the beginning and the end, the near tragedy and the start of a second life. In the stadium where he will enter tomorrow, for the first time as Inter coach, the Romanian experienced the longest day of his life: January 6, 2010, Chievo vs. Inter, a loose ball, him and Sergio Pellissier head to head. After surgery to repair the skull fracture that left him with a large scar, his helmet became a sign of rebirth: Chivu would remove it in front of the fans like D’Artagnan’s hat. Today, the Inter coach does not need protection, but he has not forgotten the lessons of those days: everything is fleeting, on and off the pitch, so never lose sight of the essentials. Pellissier, the other protagonist of the story, knows this well. As honorary president, he is trying to revive Chievo, now in Serie D.
Pellissier, fifteen years on, what remains of that clash that changed your careers?
“I was watching the ball and found him in front of me: we were too close to avoid each other. I closed my eyes and, boom, we collided. I fell very heavily too, I don’t remember much about what happened immediately after, except that I was very scared. They took Cristian to the hospital, while I returned to the field for a short time, but I was forced to leave because I couldn’t see properly anymore.“
When did you realize the seriousness of the situation?
”Soon, from the reactions, the voices, the doctors around. I was on the ground, but I could still sense that it was something serious. I wanted to see Chivu again in the hospital. Fortunately, they did an exceptional job in Verona. There were excellent doctors, and I think that in his misfortune, he was also lucky to be there. If it had happened elsewhere, things might have turned out differently.”
Chivu says that day marked the beginning of a second life for him. And for you?
“That incident affected me deeply. We are human, and therefore defenseless. I was simply luckier not to have suffered any physical consequences. In our profession, unfortunately, certain things can happen, but as professionals, we have to get back on the field immediately. It’s not easy, but it’s your mind that keeps you going in certain moments. Chivu’s extraordinary mental strength was also decisive: he wanted to come back immediately, he did so and got everything back, winning the Treble as a champion. Of course, with hindsight, you realize how fragile life is. Let’s just say that, fortunately, it wasn’t my time or his.“
What kind of relationship did you build afterwards?
”An excellent relationship. We always greet each other warmly, we’ve seen each other several times and we’ve often talked about what happened. That misfortune indirectly brought us a little closer together. He never blamed me, he knew it was just part of the game. He’s an exceptional guy, he’s getting what he deserves as a coach too. I like his style of play and what he says.
Were you surprised that he didn’t want to make any excuses after Napoli?
“It’s part of his character to focus only on the pitch, without excuses, without wasting energy on anything else: that’s rare these days. The first few games didn’t go well this year, but he had the strength to keep going. A coach is someone who believes in his ideas even in adversity.“
Do you like his Inter? Chivu said that he now enjoys coaching them.
”I’m old-fashioned, for me it’s about substance. And Inter are solid. They play well, but above all they are effective. It wasn’t easy to start again after an old cycle, yet the team understood the new ideas. There’s still a long way to go, but the present looks bright, and you can see that there’s a coach who loves those colors.“
As a striker, what do you think of Inter’s young forwards?
”As long as Lautaro is there, it’s tough for both Pio and Bonny, but it’s also a good thing because they have the best teacher in the house. Lautaro is one of the most complete strikers around, someone who seems to come from a style of football that no longer exists: if I were one of his younger teammates, I would try to observe everything. Movements, attitudes, mentality. Let’s pause for a moment on Pio, a hope for the whole of Italy: he has quality, determination, and personality, but to stay at the top you need the right mindset. And it seems he has it.”
Could this Verona side really be a threat to Inter?
“Yes, the crowd counts for a lot in Verona. It’s a difficult pitch: if you underestimate Zanetti’s team, you’re taking a risk. They create a lot, even if they don’t score much, but they have fast and technically skilled strikers up front.“
When will we see Pellissier, as a manager, and Chivu, as a coach, as opponents again in Serie A?
”Hopefully soon, it would be great. It’s a dream, and dreaming costs nothing. But beware, we at Chievo are growing: the team is doing well, it’s a real group, competitive even at the club level, but the climb to Serie A is still long.”
