Inter Milan under Chivu: explosive attack but fragile defense

La Repubblica reviews Inter Milan’s roller-coaster campaign under Chivu, marked by wild scorelines and zero draws

The newspaper La Repubblica via Fcinter1908 has examined the path followed so far by Chivu’s Inter Milan: no draws, a potent attack and a defense still leaking at crucial moments.

With 32 goals scored, Inter Milan boast the best attack in Serie A, yet their 13 goals conceded represent the weakest defensive record among the league’s top contenders. 

It is a team with two distinct faces, reflected clearly in its results: Inter Milan never draw, having collected 15 victories and 6 defeats. 

Under Cristian Chivu, the only draw recorded came last June at the Club World Cup in Pasadena, a 1–1 against Monterrey.

La Repubblica points out that this season has been a sequence of extremes: convincing wins against weaker opponents and losses against stronger, more structured sides. 

Aside from an unpredictable stumble against Udinese, Inter Milan have fallen in almost every direct clash, managing to beat only Roma. Their defeats came against Juventus, Milan, Napoli, Atletico Madrid and Liverpool.

The newspaper also highlights a recurring late-game problem, with decisive goals conceded in stoppage time. 

The evidence is clear: Adzic’s 91st-minute strike for Juventus and Gimenez’s 93rd-minute winner for Atletico Madrid. These late collapses, they argue, must be fixed if Inter Milan truly intend to chase a third Serie A title in six years.

Champions League implications and the Dumfries situation

Regarding the Champions League, La Repubblica notes that earning four points against Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund would be crucial to avoid the play-offs and keep the squad fresh in the league race.

There is also the matter of Denzel Dumfries. The right wing-back will not be available for the trip to Genoa; he has been out since 13 November, and there is still no precise return date. 

He also recently changed agents, a move interpreted as a sign that he may be assessing his options for the future while Inter Milan evaluate theirs.