Cristian Chivu said that his Inter team played with maturity during their 2-0 win over Cremonese, a result that moved them eight points clear at the Serie A summit. 

Lautaro Martinez and Piotr Zielinski's first-half strikes did the damage at Stadio Giovanni Zini, extending the Nerazzurri's unbeaten league run to 11 matches in the process. 

In addition, Inter maintained their 100%-win record against teams in the bottom half of the table in 2025-26, winning all 12 of those matches as well as scoring 33 goals. 

Chivu's side also kept their seventh clean sheet away from home this season. Across teams in Europe's top five leagues, no one has more than the Nerazzurri. 

And Inter were deserving of their victory, having registered an expected goals (xG) total of 1.4 from their 15 shots to Cremonese's 0.7 from their nine attempts. 

But Chivu was pleased by one aspect of his team's display in particular, telling Sky Sport Italia: "I saw maturity in understanding the right moments of the match, and the ways of getting to victory. 

"In terms of dominating the game, we were always in charge, although they didn't allow us very much.

"We were a little slow in moving the ball around, because we lacked energy to attack their deep defensive lines, but then we went in front before half-time.

"It was a little more relaxed after the break, as obviously some fatigue set in, but the important thing was to win, and we did it."

Nights like these pic.twitter.com/EREs195jpo

— Inter (@Inter_en) February 1, 2026

With Nicolo Barella, Hakan Calhanoglu, Denzel Dumfries and Carlos Augusto all unavailable due to injury, Chivu handed a rare start to Davide Frattesi in the Inter midfield.

Frattesi played 60 minutes before being replaced by Henrikh Mkhitaryan, with many suggesting that Sunday's outing could be his last for the club. 

That is because Premier League side Nottingham Forest have been linked with a move for the Italian, though Inter chief Beppe Marotta assured that he has not asked to leave. 

"Frattesi is an Inter player, and for me, he is an important figure in the squad," added Chivu.

"He has to prove it on the field and in training, because we trust his qualities.

"We need him in great shape for the final months of the season, so that he can give us something extra that, at times, we are missing in some games."