Inter Milan facing midfield puzzle as Chivu weighs options after injuries

With Calhanoglu and Acerbi sidelined, Cristian Chivu must rethink his structure from defense to the heart of the pitch

Inter Milan’s defeat to Liverpool has not only sharpened frustration but also handed Cristian Chivu a tactical riddle that will accompany him into the next Serie A fixtures. Both Francesco Acerbi and Hakan Calhanoglu are expected to miss several matches, forcing the Romanian coach into early-season improvisation.

Replacing Acerbi is a relatively clear path: Bisseck appears set to assume the central role in the back line, tasked with absorbing the veteran’s responsibilities. 

The real question burns in midfield, where the absence of Calhanoglu forces a reshaping of Inter Milan’s usual architecture.

Barella becomes the engine as Inter Milan rethink their midfield

As reported by the Corriere dello Sport via Fcinter1908, Barella left the pitch boiling with frustration after another Champions League setback, this time following the earlier defeat in Madrid. 

Yet from that anger comes renewed purpose. With Calhanoglu out, Barella becomes the central hinge of the midfield, managing Mkhitaryan’s workload while overseeing the duel between Zielinski and Sucic for the final starting spot.

Starting Sunday in Genoa, Barella will serve as the main reference point in the most sensitive zone of the pitch. 

Chivu must now determine how to handle the regista role without the reliability normally provided by the Turkish playmaker. 

Barella is prepared to step into that deeper position if needed, aware that the Supercoppa awaits in less than ten days in Arabia, the season’s first trophy and a chance to erase last year’s empty-handed memory.

The path ahead for Inter Milan is suddenly more complex, but the response Chivu and his players craft now may shape the team’s rhythm for the weeks to come.