Cristian Chivu admits Inter were lucky to beat Venezia in Serie A, declaring that his side went into Wednesday's clash "without enough conviction." 

Inter struggled for much of the match at the Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo, before late own goals from Matias Moreno and Redouane Halhal helped them seal a 2-0 win and move back above Lazio at the top of the table.

After a slew of half chances at the other end, Moreno inadvertently turned Marcus Thuram's cross into his own net in the 71st minute, while Carlos Augusto fired in a header three minutes later that ricocheted in off Halhal. 

Chivu put out a heavily rotated lineup, likely with an eye on the upcoming Milan derby on October 31, but the Nerazzurri were far from convincing. 

"We lacked energy and were slow in certain aspects, and we were a little surprised by their low block, even though we were expecting it," the Inter boss said. 

"We were lucky to come away with the win today. I don't know whether that's what matters; what matters is that we stayed in the game and kept believing, but we were lucky too. 

"These are the kinds of games you get through the season, two or three a year, when you go into them without enough conviction. 

"Credit to Venezia, they stopped us from making the right runs or creating one-on-one situations.  

"We had some scares too. [Ivan] Provedel kept us in the game, and our experience and quality helped us find a way to win." 

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Though the Nerazzurri may have been fortunate, they have now scored in each of their last 19 Serie A games – their longest scoring streak since a run of 25 from May 2024 to February 2025. 

Inter's tally of 25 points after nine games is also their best start to a Serie A campaign in the three-points-for-a-win era (since 1994-95). 

Chivu's side were, however, the first team to benefit from two own goals in the same Serie A game since Lazio did so against Benevento in April 2021. 

"We can and must improve. It's never easy to begin a season like this and show that level of commitment," Chivu continued. 

"You must never lose it after a season in which you've won. I have a group that never stops working or believing and gives everything it has.  

"We need to improve and find that extra spark to bring out the determination that so many games require.  

"We can improve in many areas because the season is long, expectations are high, and what you did in the previous season often counts for little or nothing."