Out-of-form Inter still ready for Ajax: “We’re determined to turn things around”

“We’re not panicking,” Dumfries begins. “We have an experienced team and have been playing together for a long time. We’re determined to turn things around. Now the Champions League starts, and it’s up to us to bounce back.”

Inter, of course, have a new head coach in Cristian Chivu. The Romanian played for Ajax from 1999 to 2003 and still has fond memories of the Amsterdam club. “I’m 45 years old now. The foundation of who I am lies in this country,” says Chivu. “Not just as a player, but also as a person. I’m very grateful to this country for making me a better person and a better footballer.”

That said, Chivu’s management style is different to that of the Dutch school of thought he experienced in the Netherlands. He explained, “The cultures are very different. I do think you get a perfect team if you mix the Dutch and Italian styles of football.”

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