From Chaos to Confrontation: Chivu and Conte’s Feud Set for High-Stakes Sequel

When Cristian Chivu and Antonio Conte meet again this weekend, sparks are expected to fly.

Their only previous encounter as coaches, the infamous Parma vs Napoli showdown in May 2025, ended in a storm of red cards, heated exchanges, and a flashpoint that still lingers in Serie A memory.

Five months later, their paths cross once more — but this time the setting is grander, the stakes higher, and the tension unmistakably familiar.

The Night Everything Boiled Over

On 18 May 2025, the penultimate round of the Serie A season, Napoli travelled to Parma needing a win to keep their Scudetto dream alive. Chivu’s Parma had already secured safety, but their disciplined low block and five-man defence frustrated Conte’s men throughout an extraordinary evening at the Stadio Ennio Tardini

Conte and Chivu have been sent off #ParmaNapoli pic.twitter.com/gplhHZYyEM

— Football24/7 (@foet247europa) May 18, 2025

The match was pure chaos. Matteo Politano struck the crossbar, André-Frank Zambo Anguissa hit the post, and a penalty awarded to David Neres was sensationally overturned after a lengthy VAR review. Emotions frayed as Napoli’s title hopes teetered, and when Mats Deijl and Emiliano Meret clashed late on, the atmosphere turned poisonous.

The breaking point came in stoppage time. As news filtered through that Inter had been pegged back to a 2-2 draw by Lazio, Napoli’s bench erupted in celebration — a reaction that infuriated Chivu and his staff. Conte, never one to back down, became embroiled in a furious touchline argument that saw both coaches dismissed.

Cameras caught the Napoli boss shouting towards Chivu’s assistant, Antonio Gagliardi, a former colleague of his with Italy:

“You can’t wait, you piece of me… then I’ll come get you.”

Both were sent to the stands before the final whistle. The match finished 0-0, ensuring Napoli’s lead at the top survived. A week later, Conte’s men were crowned champions of Italy.

From Flashpoint to Focus

Now, as Inter travel to Naples under Chivu’s leadership, there’s a sense of unfinished business. The Romanian has transformed Inter’s structure since replacing Simone Inzaghi, emphasising compactness, control, and emotional composure — three qualities that deserted Conte that night in Parma.

Conte, meanwhile, has steadied Napoli after a turbulent summer, returning the club to the aggressive, front-foot football that typifies his sides. Both men embody intensity, but in very different ways: Conte through combustible passion, Chivu through icy calculation.

Saturday’s meeting at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona feels less like a tactical contest and more like a psychological rematch. Their last duel ended in red cards, flying tempers, and controversy. This time, both coaches will hope their teams — not their tempers — take centre stage.