Chivu blames low energy levels as Inter humiliated by Bodo/Glimt

Cristian Chivu said Inter’s low energy levels were to blame after their humiliating Champions League exit at the hands of Norwegian minnows Bodo/Glimt.

Inter were already up against it ahead of the second leg of their play-off tie, having lost 3-1 in Norway last week.

They laid siege to the Bodo goal for long periods, but Jens Petter Hauge and Hakon Evjen struck on the counter as Kjetil Knutsen’s men won 2-1 on the night and 5-2 on aggregate.

It is the first time Inter have ever been eliminated from the Champions League by a team outside Europe’s big five leagues (England, Spain, Germany, Italy and France).

Their last such elimination from any major European competition, meanwhile, came against Feyenoord in the semi-finals of the 2001-02 UEFA Cup.

The Nerazzurri also lost both home and away in a Champions League knockout tie for the first time since the 2010-11 quarter-finals, versus Schalke. It is the first time they have suffered that fate against a team from outside Europe’s top five leagues in any UEFA tournament.

Speaking to Sky Sport Italia after the game, Chivu said: “We tried in every way, against a very well-organised team with a low block. I have nothing to reproach the boys for because they tried in every way to make it, with all their energy.

“There is a lot of bitterness. Unfortunately, we faced a team with much more energy than us and we have to congratulate them, because they deserve to go through.”

While Inter have now played 15 games since the turn of the year, Bodo have only played four competitive fixtures in 2026 – all wins in the Champions League – as the Eliteserien season does not start until next month.

1 – For the 1st time a Norwegian team have eliminated an Italian in the knockout stages of the European Cup/UEFA Champions League; in general, it had only happened when #Bodø/Glimt defeated Lazio in the quarter finals of the UEFA Europa League 2024-25. Step.#BodøInter pic.twitter.com/XaPOLrUuqh

— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) February 24, 2026

Chivu suggested that had an impact, as he added: “Energy is difficult to find when you play every three days.

“Maybe we could have developed better and attacked the area differently, but I have no reason to criticise the boys… with 10 players in the box defending, it was really difficult.

“We wanted to get through, to be competitive, even if we knew it wasn’t going to be easy against a team that has only played four games in the last two months.

“Now we turn the page and move on. The Champions League is like this and we have to give credit for what the opponents have done.”

Following two final appearances in the previous three seasons, Inter’s early exit is likely to bring major scrutiny, even if they look destined to win the Scudetto.

“The goal is to be competitive; we have always said that. We never thought about things that were too far away, that we could not control,” Chivu said.

“Unfortunately, in the Champions League we were not able to be competitive. We know the level is high and if you don’t find that spark, you find teams that punish the first mistake you make.”