Chivu’s Inter Milan debut: a first test amid hopes and hurdles
On a night when many in Italy faced exams, Chivu faced his own test — leading Inter Milan for the first time against Monterrey at the Club World Cup
Last night Chivu faced his own test — leading Inter Milan for the first time against Monterrey at the Club World Cup
Last night Cristian Chivu was the night of his first test as Inter Milan’s head coach. Back in black and blue but this time with a new role and fresh ambitions, Chivu surely dreamed of a better result in his debut against Monterrey.
However, the bundle of insights – some positive, some less so – provided by the match remains valuable moving forward.
Despite limited preparation time, Chivu kept his promise of presenting a team with visible differences. Just over 15 days have passed since the night in Munich, and barely 10 since the squad regrouped at Appiano.
It was unrealistic to expect that to be enough to restore sharpness, motivation, and morale. Yet, some seeds planted in these early training sessions have already begun to sprout.
One of the most noticeable changes was Inter Milan’s pressing out of possession, with the team showing more intensity and pushing higher compared to the Inzaghi era.
This shift, perhaps aided by the opponent’s tactical setup and the technical gap, marked a clear break from the past. Set-piece organization also changed: both Lautaro Martínez and Chivu confirmed afterward that Inter Milan will now defend zonally — a significant structural shift that will need time to perfect.
Tactical changes, missed chances, and a crucial learning curve
Chivu didn’t rotate many players at the start, but showed no hesitation in altering formations mid-match. Embracing the idea of a “fluid” team that gives few reference points to opponents, he switched from a 3-5-2 to a 3-4-2-1 during the second half — a system seen occasionally under Inzaghi that might become a real Plan B this season, especially against certain teams.
He sought the winner with Lautaro and Mkhitaryan (later replaced by Zalewski) playing behind Thuram, and Sučić coming in alongside Barella in midfield.
The equalizer came from a cleverly worked free-kick — the result of recent training — but the second goal was missing. It would have changed the mood of this debut and offered a better first impression of Chivu’s new era.
Patience is required now. Starting immediately with official, high-stakes matches is exciting but also complicates the job for a coach who surely would’ve preferred a softer launch.
Chivu has had neither time to prepare the squad tactically and physically nor opportunities to test new ideas in friendlies. In an effort to quickly piece things back together after the Munich collapse, he’s focusing heavily on the psychological side, convinced that it’s the most urgent area to address.
The best remedy would have been a win over Monterrey — a result that slipped away partly due to a lack of clinical finishing, an issue already familiar from the Inzaghi period.
Now Chivu has three days to review his notes and fine-tune adjustments ahead of the second challenge. He’ll aim to guide Inter Milan onto the right path — in both qualification and his personal coaching journey, suddenly thrust from the sidelines into the spotlight of world football.
His promotion largely depends on the next 180 minutes, against Urawa and River Plate.
Source: Fcinter1908